La. Admin. Code tit. 67 § III-5729

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-5729 - Support Services

A. Clients may be provided support services that include but are not limited to:

1. a full range of case maintenance and case management services designed to lead to self-sufficiency;

2. transportation assistance;

3. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits;

4. Medicaid benefits;

5. child care;

6. TANF-funded services;

7. other services necessary to accept or maintain employment; and

8. Post-FITAP transitional assistance benefits.

a. Effective September 1, 2021, these services may be provided to participants who are or become ineligible for cash assistance due to earned income within the limits of appropriations. They include a monthly transportation payment, other supportive service payments used to cover certain costs deemed necessary for employment, housing assistance used to address a specific episode of need deemed necessary to maintain employment, educational assistance, and a work retention incentive. The payments may begin with the first month of FITAP ineligibility and continue through the twelfth month of ineligibility or through the last month of employment, whichever comes first. The twelve months need not be consecutive.

B. Support services may be provided to:

1. persons participating in the family assessment;

2. persons referred by the department to other activities, such as drug counseling, prior to their participation in a work activity;

3. FITAP recipients participating in approved activities necessary to meet exemptions to the FITAP time limits;

4. FITAP recipients to facilitate their attendance in the FITAP Drug Testing Program or Parenting Skills Program;

5. allow participation in educational activities for FITAP recipients who are exempt from STEP.

C. Electronic disbursement of support services payments shall be mandatory for all payment types.

1. Electronic disbursement of support services payments includes direct deposit to the STEP participant's bank account (checking or savings) or payments to a stored value card account for the STEP participant.

D. The department shall inform participants of available supportive services as part of the initial family assessment and shall integrate the provision of any necessary supportive services to the family success agreement developed and signed by the department and the participant.

La. Admin. Code tit. 67, § III-5729

Promulgated by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, LR 30:500 (March 2004), amended LR 32:2098 (November 2006), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability and Self-Sufficiency Section, LR 38:1391 (June 2012), amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability Section, LR 40:1678 (September 2014), Amended LR 47, Amended by the Department of Children and Family Services, Economic Stability Section, LR 471843 (12/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with P.L. 104-193, R.S. 46:231, R.S. 46:460, and Act 58, 2003 Reg. Session, ACYF-IM-CC-05-03.