SR 17-31 Dated 09/17 |
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION – Division of Family Assistance (DFA)
FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, DFA: |
Terry R. Smith |
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DFA SIGNATURE DATE: |
July 26, 2017 |
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AT (OFFICE): |
Division of Family Assistance (DFA) |
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TO: |
District Office Supervisors NHEP Teams |
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SUBJECT: |
Clarification of an NHEP orientation exemption |
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EFFECTIVE DATE: |
September 1, 2017 |
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SUMMARY
This SR releases clarification that if a FANF financial assistance case closes during a sanction period and the individual reapplies within 30 days of closure from Work Programs, no orientation is (again) required.
EXISTING POLICY |
NEW POLICY |
Unless the participant reapplying in sanction status has attended an orientation within the last 30 days, he or she will be required to attend an orientation as a condition of eligibility. |
If the FANF financial assistance case closes during a sanction period and the individual reapplies for financial assistance within 30 days of closure from Work Programs, no orientation is (again) required. |
POLICY
DFA has updated the FAM to align with already-existing guidance in New HEIGHTS that applies to FANF financial assistance program applicants whose previous case closed during a sanction period. For these applicants, New HEIGHTS has a pop up window indicating “Group Orientation is not required because the individual was closed from Work Programs within the last 30 days”; the FAM has been updated to include this clarification that orientation is not required if it is within 30 days of closure from Work Programs.
This policy only applies to former NHEP participants whose FANF financial assistance case closed during a sanction period who then reapply for FANF financial assistance (referred to as reapplying in sanction status) and must take part in the NHEP; these applicants do not need to attend the NHEP orientation if they reapply for FANF financial assistance within 30 days of Work Programs closure. Applicants who did not previously participate in NHEP or who reapply more than 30 days after closure from Work Programs must attend orientation as a condition of eligibility.
NEW HEIGHTS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION
No change to New HEIGHTS is needed.
DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS
No form revisions are necessary.
POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS
Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics
Section 808.36 Actions Taken During A Sanction Period
IMPLEMENTATION
The policy released in this SR is effective September 1, 2017.
CLIENT NOTIFICATION
No special client notification is planned or needed.
TRAINING
No special training is planned or needed.
FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS
No forms are affected.
DISPOSITION
This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.
DISTRIBUTION
This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for DFA policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/publications.htm, effective August 28, 2017. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Family Assistance Manual.
DFA/JSC:s