723-2          BEGINNING A PENALTY

The date a penalty begins depends on whether the family is applying for Temporary Assistance or already receiving benefits.

For applicants, the penalty begins on the date of application or the date the family is eligible, whichever is later.

For recipients, the penalty begins on the first day of the month following the month in which a timely notice of adverse action is provided to the assistance unit.

Note:

Work eligible individuals (pregnant woman, single parent, and/or two-parent household types) are optional for the purposes of receiving assistance and work activity participation during the period of retroactivity (i.e. the time period between the application date and the approval date of benefits.) Please refer to WSPM Section 1001-1 for guidance regarding rapid engagement. Penalty requests during the period of retroactivity are allowed, but discouraged.

Please refer to ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MS 705-3 G when approving a case that previously closed with a penalty from either Work Services or CSSDChild Support Services Division.