12- 597 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 10

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 597-1-10 - JOB SEARCH ALLOWANCES

A job search allowance shall be granted to an adversely affected individual to assist the individual in securing a job within the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

1. An application shall be submitted to a CareerCenter Case Manager before the job search begins for the job search allowance to be granted. The job search may not be approved until after the individual who has been totally or partially separated is covered under a certification, as defined in this Chapter.

2. A job search allowance application may be approved only if submitted before:

A. The 365th day after the date of the certification under which the individual is covered, or the 365th day after the date of the individual's last total separation, whichever is the later; or

B. The 182nd day after the concluding date of approved training.

3. If the individual has a valid job interview set up outside the commuting area, a job search may be approved to the suitable employment opportunity provided the following conditions are met:

A. The commuting area for approval of a job search allowance is more than 50 miles from the individual's home to the location (company/business) where the interview is scheduled using the most direct route;

B. A timely application is filed;

C. There has been a total separation from adversely affected employment at the time job search begins;

D. Registration is made with the CareerCenter Case Manager which shall furnish the individual with reemployment services;

E. There has been a determination by the CareerCenter Case Manager that the individual has no reasonable expectation for securing suitable employment in the commuting area and has a reasonable expectation of obtaining suitable long-term employment in the area where the job search will be conducted;

F. Completion of the job search is done within a period of time not to exceed 30 days after the day on which the job search began;

G. The CareerCenter Case Manager has received written verification from the employer about the type of employment and the specific interview date and time for the individual.

H. If the job search is approved, the individual will generally be allowed up to three days to search the area for other employment. He/she must have at least one scheduled interview prior to the approval of the job search allowance. Job searches beyond the 3-day limit may be approved if it is deemed the most practical and efficient course by the BES CareerCenter Manager.

I. The individual must document all contacts with employers. All contacts must be submitted with a travel log. All items of the travel itinerary must be documented on the log. These items shall include start and stop times, dates for each day of travel, and starting mileage and ending mileage. All motel/hotel, meal charges and any other travel related costs will be considered only if original receipts are presented.

J. The total job search allowance for any individual for the entire certification period shall not exceed $800 (pre-2002 certifications) or $1250 (post-2002 certification & 80,000+ certifications) or $1500 (#70,000- 79,999 certifications), Reimbursement for any one trip may be for up to 90 percent or 100 percent (for workers covered by petitions 70,000-79,999)of the allowable cost (not to exceed the total cost allowance of $800 or $1250 or $1500).

K. The amount of a job search allowance shall be 90 percent or 100 percent (for workers covered by petitions 70,000-79,999) of the total cost of each of the following transportation and subsistence items:

(1) Allowance for the most cost-effective mode of travel reasonably available shall be approved.

(a) Determination of most cost effective mode of travel is made by using the actual cost of round trip travel by the most economic public transportation that the individual can be expected to take from the individual's home to the job search area; or the cost per mile at the prevailing mileage rate authorized under the federal travel regulations for round trip travel by the most direct route from the individual's home to the job search area.

(b) Mileage payments shall be based on actual round trip mileage from the individual's home to job search area plus a maximum of 20 miles of local travel per day (at the prevailing mileage rate authorized under the federal travel regulations).

(2) Lodging and meals shall not exceed the lesser of the actual cost to the individual of lodging and meals during the job search or 50 percent of the prevailing per diem allowance rate authorized by federal law for the area where the job search is conducted.

12- 597 C.M.R. ch. 1, § 10