Policy Directive                                                                             Issuance Number: TEA 07-01

Transitional Employment Assistance Manual                      Issuance Date: 07/01/07

From: Cindy Varner                                                                       Expiration Date: Until Superseded

             Assistant Director of Employment Assistance

Subj:  Allowable Work Activities and Definitions

This policy directive addresses work activity and program changes outlined in the interim final rule dated June 29, 2006.   These changes were implemented effective October 1, 2006.

A Work-Eligible Individual is one of two types of adults.

1.      An adult (or minor child head-of-household) receiving assistance under TANF or a separate State program, unless excluded.

2.      A non-recipient parent living with a child receiving assistance, unless the parent is a member of one of following three excluded groups:

a)      A minor parent who is not a head-of-household (or a spouse of head-of-household);

b)      An alien who is ineligible to receive assistance due to his or her immigration status;

c)      DWS option on a case-by case basis, a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  

TEA clients will be engaged in one or more of the following work activities effective immediately.   

Allowable Work Activities:  

·        Unsubsidized Employment

·        Subsidized Employment (Private)

·        Subsidized Employment (Public)

·        Micro-Enterprise (Self Employment)

·        On-the-Job Training  

Allowable Work Activities continued:  

·        Group Job Search (Job Club and Assisted Job Search)

·        Community Service

·        Work Experience Training

·        Education

·        Vocational Education Training

·        Job Skills Training

·        Satisfactory Attendance at Secondary School or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence

·        Providing Childcare Services To An Individual Who Is Participating In A Community Service Program  

Note:  All work activities must be supervised on an on-going daily basis.  

Work Activity Definitions:  

Unsubsidized Employment is full-time or part-time employment in the public or private sector that is not subsidized by TANF or any other public program.  

Subsidized Employment is employment for which the employer receives a subsidy from TANF or other public funds to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employing a recipient.  The person may be hired by a private or public sector employer.  

Micro-Enterprise activity is designed to allow individuals to engage in self-employment enterprises. It may include individuals who are already self-employed, those wanting to expand a self-employment enterprise, and those expressing an interest in developing and starting a Micro-Enterprise business.  

On-the-Job Training (OJT) means training in the public or private sector that is given to a paid employee while he or she is engaged in productive work and that provides knowledge and skills essential to the full and adequate performance of the job.  

Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance means the act of seeking or obtaining employment, preparation to seek or obtain employment, including life skills training, and substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, or rehabilitation activities for those who are otherwise employable.  

Community Service is a structured program in which TANF recipients perform work for the direct benefit of the community under the auspices of public or non-profit organizations.  

Work Experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private sector employment is not available means a work activity, performed in return for welfare, that provides an individual with an opportunity to acquire the general skills, training, knowledge, and work habits necessary to obtain employment.  

Work Activity Definitions (continued):  

Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency means education related to a specific occupation, job, or job offer.  

Vocational Educational Training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual) means organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations requiring training other than a baccalaureate or advanced degree.

Job Skills Training (directly related to employment) means training and education for job skills required by an employer to provide an individual with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of the workplace. 

Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate means regular attendance, in accordance with the requirements of the secondary school or course of study at a secondary school, or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.  

Providing child care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program means providing child care to enable another TANF recipient to participate in a community service program.   

This directive supersedes any previously issued clarification or policy regarding allowable work activities and their definitions.

 Inquiries to:  Derwin Taylor , DWS TEA Policy Unit, 683-1353, Derwin.Taylor@arkansas.gov

                        Donna Roshell, DWS TEA Policy Unit, 683-1355, Donna.Roshell@arkansas.gov

                        Renee Green, DWS TEA Policy Unit, 683-1356, Renee.Green@arkansas.gov