730-2 EXEMPTIONS FROM WORK ACTIVITIES
A parent or caretaker relative may be fully or partially exempt from the requirement to participate in work activities. The exemption may be applied at application in conjunction with development of the Family Self-Sufficiency Plan or at any time during a family’s period of eligibility if a change in circumstances also changes the individual’s exemption status.
An adult applicant or recipient may be exempt from the requirement to participate in work activities for the following reasons:
Caretaker of baby: This is a caretaker relative with one or more children under the age of 12 months. The caretaker loses this exemption after retaining it for 12 cumulative calendar months.
Note:
This exemption is only available to families with a single caretaker relative or two-parent families where at least one parent is physically or mentally incapable of performing gainful activity. It is not available to two-parent families in which both adults are physically and mentally able to perform gainful activity.
Caretaker of disabled child: This is a parent or caretaker relative who is providing home care for a child who experiences a disability. This exemption must be documented by a physician or other licensed medical professional.
Caretaker of disabled adult: This is a caretaker relative who is providing home care to a related disabled person requiring 24 hour care. This exemption must be documented by a physician or other licensed medical professional.
Medical reasons: A caretaker relative who has established limitations on their ability to participate in work activities with documentation from a physician or other licensed medical professional may be exempt from work activities. The documentation may include a doctor’s statement that describes the duration of the condition and the limitations on the ability to participate in activities, or it may be provided on the Health Status Report Form ( TA #10). In some cases, the case manager may need to request additional information needed to develop the FSSP and assign activities.
Based on the provided documentation, the caretaker relative may be only partially exempt from participation in work activities. When the documentation indicates that the caretaker relative is able to work part-time, they may be required to engage in work activities up to the limit set by the physician or other medical professional.
Family hardship: This applies when the family shows that circumstances outside of their control prevent the caretaker relative from participating in work activities. This includes such things as illness or death in the family, or an immediate crisis.
Lack of child care: A caretaker of a child under age six is exempt from work activities if he or she demonstrates an inability to find needed child care because:
Appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the home or activity site is unavailable;
Affordable child care is unavailable; or
Suitable informal child care is unavailable.
It is the responsibility of DPA staff to inform the parent or caretaker of this work activities exemption during the initial interview. The caretaker must also be informed that this exemption does not stop the 60-month clock.
Note:
A caretaker relative shall be required to participate in work activities up to the number of hours that appropriate and affordable child care, including suitable informal child care, is available.
Child care is appropriate when a provider who is willing to take care of the participant’s child:
Appears to have the ability to care for children of the same age and development level as the participant's children; and
Is, or is willing to become, an approved or licensed provider.
Child care is within a reasonable distance when the provider's location is within 30 minutes travel time by public or private transportation from the participant's home or activity site.
Child care is affordable when the family has PASS I assistance to pay the cost.
Informal child care is care provided by a relative or friend. Informal care is suitable if it is appropriate and within a reasonable distance.
A caretaker qualifies for an exemption from work activities if the local Child Care Resource and Referral agency verifies the lack of care that the family requires and it appears that suitable informal care is not available to the family.
No Child Care Funds: The sole custodial parent or caretaker relative has a dependent child living in their home under age six years and the Division does not agree to pay for the cost of child care determined by the case worker to be necessary for their participation.
No Transportation Funds: The Division does not agree to pay for transportation expenses determined by the case worker to be necessary for their participation.
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