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Up-Front DiversionUp-Front Diversion

Agency for Workforce Agency for Workforce InnovationInnovation

Statewide TrainingStatewide Training

Spring 2005Spring 2005

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OverviewOverview Not all TCA applicants need on-going monthly Not all TCA applicants need on-going monthly

cash assistancecash assistance

– The family may have an emergency or unexpected The family may have an emergency or unexpected need that can be resolved through a one-time need that can be resolved through a one-time payment or short-term servicespayment or short-term services

– The applicant may have a job or the confirmation The applicant may have a job or the confirmation of a job that (s)he can begin if the emergency is of a job that (s)he can begin if the emergency is resolvedresolved

– The applicant may be able to avoid on-going The applicant may be able to avoid on-going emergencies through planning and incomeemergencies through planning and income

The RWB is responsible for determining The RWB is responsible for determining eligibilityeligibility

An Up-Front Diversion payment of An Up-Front Diversion payment of up toup to $1,000 $1,000 is a once in a lifetime paymentis a once in a lifetime payment

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Four Prioritized StepsFour Prioritized Steps

Step 1Step 1: Linking : Linking applicants with job applicants with job opportunities which opportunities which includes:includes:

– Verifying the individual is a Verifying the individual is a TCA applicant and not TCA applicant and not currently a recipient of TCA currently a recipient of TCA

– Beginning the WT Work Beginning the WT Work Registration processRegistration process

– Engagement in a work Engagement in a work activity and job searchactivity and job search

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Four Prioritized StepsFour Prioritized Steps

Step 2Step 2: Offering services, : Offering services, such as childcare or such as childcare or transportationtransportation

Step 3Step 3: Screening : Screening applicants to respond to the applicants to respond to the emergency situationemergency situation

Step 4Step 4: Offering a once in a : Offering a once in a lifetime payment of UP TO lifetime payment of UP TO $1000 PER FAMILY$1000 PER FAMILY

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Determining if the Applicant Determining if the Applicant is Appropriate for Diversionis Appropriate for Diversion

Would the applicant be more Would the applicant be more appropriately served with applicant appropriately served with applicant support services or a payment of up to support services or a payment of up to $1,000 rather than cash assistance?$1,000 rather than cash assistance?

Does the applicant have a history of Does the applicant have a history of retaining employment?retaining employment?

If the emergency or unexpected If the emergency or unexpected situation is resolved, would the situation is resolved, would the applicant gain employment and/or applicant gain employment and/or retain employment?retain employment?

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Eligibility RequirementsEligibility Requirements

The RWB must:The RWB must:

– Verify that the individual Verify that the individual is an applicant for TCAis an applicant for TCA

– Document the identity and Document the identity and citizenship of the citizenship of the applicantapplicant

Use the Eligibility Form for Use the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded Services (AWI TANF Funded Services (AWI WTP 0005), WTP 0005),

Review the FLORIDA system Review the FLORIDA system for citizenship datafor citizenship data

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Eligibility RequirementsEligibility Requirements The RWB must document that the The RWB must document that the

household meets the definition of familyhousehold meets the definition of family– Use the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded Use the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded

Services, AWI WTP Form 0005Services, AWI WTP Form 0005

– Use FLORIDA system to verify dataUse FLORIDA system to verify data

The RWB must document the household The RWB must document the household composition, including names and Social composition, including names and Social Security NumbersSecurity Numbers– Use the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded Use the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded

ServicesServices

– Use FLORIDA system to verify dataUse FLORIDA system to verify data

– Update information in OSST, if appropriateUpdate information in OSST, if appropriate

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Eligibility CriteriaEligibility Criteria

The RWB must document the The RWB must document the emergency or unexpected emergency or unexpected situation, that if resolved, situation, that if resolved, would eliminate the need for would eliminate the need for on-going assistanceon-going assistance

The RWB should document The RWB should document that the family has the that the family has the means to meet their on-means to meet their on-going needs if Up-Front going needs if Up-Front Diversion assistance is Diversion assistance is providedprovided

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RWB Provided RWB Provided Diversion ServicesDiversion Services

Intended to meet emergency Intended to meet emergency needs, not on-going basic needs, not on-going basic needsneeds

Are considered “non-Are considered “non-assistance” assistance”

Must be recorded in OSSTMust be recorded in OSST

Utilize local RWB TANF funds Utilize local RWB TANF funds rather than DCF fundsrather than DCF funds

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What is “Non-What is “Non-Assistance”?Assistance”?

Non-assistance cannot provide for Non-assistance cannot provide for on-going needs; examples include:on-going needs; examples include: Non-recurrent short term benefits (Non-recurrent short term benefits (no no

more than four monthsmore than four months) designed to ) designed to deal with an emergency needdeal with an emergency need

Support services for Support services for employedemployed familiesfamilies Work subsidies (paid through a third Work subsidies (paid through a third

party)party) Resume’ development, use of resource Resume’ development, use of resource

room, case managementroom, case management

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Applicant’s Applicant’s ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Sign an agreement to receive a Sign an agreement to receive a diversion payment INSTEAD OF on-diversion payment INSTEAD OF on-going cashgoing cash

Understand that the entire TANF Understand that the entire TANF eligible household cannot receive TCA eligible household cannot receive TCA for three months after receipt of a for three months after receipt of a diversion payment unless an diversion payment unless an emergency existsemergency exists

Understand that the family is Understand that the family is responsible for meeting their on-responsible for meeting their on-going needs going needs

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DCF Issues the DCF Issues the PaymentPayment

Enters information in the FLORIDA Enters information in the FLORIDA systemsystem

Must process the request within five Must process the request within five working daysworking days

Counts as a lump sum asset in the Counts as a lump sum asset in the month of receipt for Food Stamps month of receipt for Food Stamps and Medicaidand Medicaid

Does not count as incomeDoes not count as income

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Up-Front Diversion Up-Front Diversion PaymentPayment

Does not count against individual’s Does not count against individual’s TCA time limitTCA time limit

Can withdraw request to receive an Can withdraw request to receive an Up-Front Diversion payment Up-Front Diversion payment anytime before the money is anytime before the money is releasedreleased

May receive transitional childcare, if May receive transitional childcare, if eligible and if funds are availableeligible and if funds are available

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Child Care During the Up-Child Care During the Up-Front Diversion ProcessFront Diversion Process

The applicant must The applicant must participate in the WT participate in the WT Work Registration Work Registration process during diversion process during diversion approval processapproval process– Applicant should be Applicant should be

given 30-day childcare given 30-day childcare referral to participate in referral to participate in applicant activitiesapplicant activities

– If employment is not If employment is not secured and started secured and started within 30 days, the within 30 days, the applicant childcare endsapplicant childcare ends

If employment is If employment is secured within 90 days secured within 90 days of the start of the Up-of the start of the Up-Front Diversion Front Diversion process, the family is process, the family is eligible for transitional eligible for transitional childcarechildcare

– Use the date on the Use the date on the bottom of the Up-Front bottom of the Up-Front Diversion Screening Diversion Screening form [AWI 2073(a)] to form [AWI 2073(a)] to determine this datedetermine this date

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Reapplication Reapplication

If an Up-Front Diversion If an Up-Front Diversion payment is received, the payment is received, the family cannot re-apply family cannot re-apply for TCA for 3 months for TCA for 3 months after receipt of payment after receipt of payment unless they meet a unless they meet a qualified emergencyqualified emergency– The RWB must determine if The RWB must determine if

a qualified emergency a qualified emergency existsexists

– The RWB must approve or The RWB must approve or deny the emergency deny the emergency request for reapplicationrequest for reapplication

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Qualified EmergencyQualified Emergency

Hospitalization or Hospitalization or illness that results in illness that results in a loss of work or a loss of work or incomeincome

Loss of housingLoss of housing

Natural disasterNatural disaster

Other situations that Other situations that impact employment impact employment

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Repayment After Repayment After ReapplicationReapplication

If an approved emergency exists If an approved emergency exists and the family is re-approved for and the family is re-approved for TCA, DCF must pro-rate the TCA, DCF must pro-rate the diversion payment over an eight diversion payment over an eight month period and deduct from any month period and deduct from any TCA the family is eligible to receiveTCA the family is eligible to receive

Will be deducted for eight months Will be deducted for eight months or until the end of their time limit, or until the end of their time limit, whichever comes firstwhichever comes first

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Up-Front Diversion (UFD) Flow ChartUp-Front Diversion (UFD) Flow Chart

Individual applies for TCAIndividual applies for TCA

RWB engages applicant in RWB engages applicant in WT Work Registration WT Work Registration process. If considered a good process. If considered a good candidate for diversion begin candidate for diversion begin the screening process using the screening process using the UFD Screening Form the UFD Screening Form 2073(a)2073(a)

RWB determines if citizenship RWB determines if citizenship and family income eligibility and family income eligibility requirements are met using requirements are met using the Eligibility Form for TANF the Eligibility Form for TANF Funded Services (AWI 0005)Funded Services (AWI 0005)

RWB uses the income reported by RWB uses the income reported by the applicant on the date of the applicant on the date of application to determine income application to determine income eligibility using the Diversion eligibility using the Diversion Services Eligibility Screening Tool Services Eligibility Screening Tool [AWI 2073(b)[AWI 2073(b)]]

If potentially eligible, applicant If potentially eligible, applicant will document household will document household information, emergency need, information, emergency need, etc.etc.

Applicant and RWB provider must Applicant and RWB provider must complete and sign the Agreement complete and sign the Agreement for UFD Payment/Services form (AWI for UFD Payment/Services form (AWI 2075)2075)

RWB provider approves or denies RWB provider approves or denies the services and/or payment and the services and/or payment and forwards copy of the AWI 2075 and forwards copy of the AWI 2075 and AWI 2073(b) to DCFAWI 2073(b) to DCF

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Questions or CommentsQuestions or Comments

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.