719              THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY PLAN

Self-sufficiency planning is a key element in helping the families we serve become more independent and self-supporting through employment.  Self-sufficiency planning:

• Reinforces the urgency of the 60-month time limit;
   

• Establishes the family's responsibility to make progress toward employment and self-sufficiency;
   

• Provides a framework to help the family meet that responsibility; and  
   

• Identifies the activities the family will participate in and the services the family will need to support its movement toward self-sufficiency.    

Because of the urgency of the lifetime limit on Temporary Assistance benefits, participants should plan on achieving self-sufficiency within 24 months or before their remaining time on Temporary Assistance ends, whichever is less. The time period for achieving self-sufficiency may not provide for more than 60 cumulative months of assistance.

Note:

Families that receive an extension to the 60-month time limit will develop a new FSSP Family Self-Sufficiency Plan that includes the recommendation of the Extension Review case staffing team. The time period covered by the FSSP Family Self-Sufficiency Plan will correspond to the length of the extension.