723-3          ENDING A PENALTY

Once an individual expresses their intention to comply, certain activities need to be completed before the penalty is ended.

723-3 A.     DETERMINING COMPLIANCE

1. Developing an FSSP Family Self-Sufficiency Plan or cooperating with CSSD Child Support Services Division.

Compliance occurs once the individual develops and signs their FSSP Family Self-Sufficiency Plan or takes action to cooperate with CSSD Child Support Services Division.

2. Work or self-sufficiency activities

To end a work or self-sufficiency activities penalty, the individual must participate in the missed activity, or an alternative activity as described below, to be in compliance.  For activities such as job search, that occur over a period of time, participants may be required to demonstrate their commitment by participating in the required activity for up to:

• Five days for a first failure to comply;

• Ten days for a second failure to comply; and

• 30 days for a third or subsequent failure to comply.

3. Compliance that requires participation in an alternative activity

When the activity that was originally agreed upon by the participant and case manager occurs only weekly or monthly (e.g., vocational counseling), is no longer available (e.g., a special training opportunity), or is no longer appropriate, the case manager works with the participant to identify an alternative activity to demonstrate compliance.

The alternate activity may be one that is already included in the family's FSSP Family Self-Sufficiency Plan, or a newly identified activity that moves the family toward self-sufficiency.  If necessary, the family's self-sufficiency plan is updated to include the new activity.  The individual may be required to participate in the alternative activity for a period of time, as outlined in subsection 2 above

723-3 B.     RESTORING BENEFITS

Benefits are restored to the date the individual stated their intent to comply, or the date they actually comply, whichever is earlier.

The case manager will work with the participant to clearly identify an action that can be taken to comply. Compliance must begin within 10 days or benefits are not restored back to the original date of their statement of intent.