Policy                                                                           Issuance Number: TEA 07-03

Transitional Employment Assistance Manual            Issuance Date: 09/28/07

From: Cindy Varner                                             Expiration Date: Until Superseded

            Assistant Director of Employment Assistance

Subj:  TEA 3350-3351, TEA 3500-3524 and New TEA Forms

Summary of Changes

New Forms - DWS/TEA-1, 65, 175-178,181,187-188,196-198, 1400, 1402, 1404-1416, 1420-1422, 1427, 1429-1433, 1437, 1446

Effective September 30, 2007, revisions to the TEA Policy and procedures are being made to comply with Arkansas Act 514 of 2007 and 45 CFR 261

TEA Policy 3350-3351 and 3500-3524, client has been removed and replaced with participant.  Case manager has been replaced with worker for individuals handling sanctioned cases. Progressive sanction has been removed and replaced with non-compliance sanction. Progressive sanction process has been replaced with new non-compliance process.

    The sanction process is as follows:

1.  TEA benefits will be suspended for one (1) month.

2.   If the participant fails to comply after the benefits have been suspended, the suspended             payment will be lost.

3.   In addition to losing the suspended payment, the monthly benefit amount will be reduced by 25% for up to three (3) months of non-compliance.

4.   If the participant’s non-compliance continues after the fourth (4) month, a second suspension period will be imposed for two (2) months.  The suspended benefits are at the full payment level.

5.   If the participant fails to comply after the benefits have been suspended a second time, the suspended benefits will be lost.  In addition to losing the suspended payments, the monthly benefit amount will be paid at the 50% reduced level for up to three (3) months.

6.   Case closure      

If during the suspension period(s) the participant becomes compliant within fifteen (15) business days of suspension period and maintains compliance for two (2) weeks, the suspended TEA payment will be paid to the participant.

Throughout this section of policy revisions have been made to determining good cause, applying the non-compliance sanction, home visits and contacts during the non-compliance sanction, lifting the sanction and reapplication after closure. 

Inquiries to:  Renee Green, TEA Unit, 683-1356, renee.green@arkansas.gov

Donna Roshell, TEA Unit, 683-1355, donna.roshell@arkansas.gov

                        Derwin Taylor , TEA Unit, 683-1353, derwin.taylor@arkansas.gov

                        Paula Gentry,    TEA Unit, 682-8182, paula.gentry@arkansas.gov

                                                                                       [contact for eligibility issues only]