12- 597 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 2

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 597-2-2 - ELIGIBILITY

1.Criteria. Within the limits of available program resources (taking into account on going commitments to current participants), an applicant will be eligible for CSSP if the applicant applying for CSSP meets the following:

A. Resident of and lives in Maine.

B. Is at least 18 years of age or enrolled in the ECCTEP;

C. Is legally eligible to work in the United States;

D. Does not have a postsecondary degree that is marketable in Maine;

E. Has income of less than 200% of the poverty level for the household size as calculated in paragraph 2 of this section;

F. Is seeking education or training for an occupation approved according to Section 4;

G. Has the ability to undertake and complete the education or training program. Anapplicant's ability is determined pursuant to Section 6.3.

2.Determining Financial Eligibility. An applicant is financially eligible for CSSP when the applicant's household income, other than excluded income, is below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. When determining the income of the applicant's household:

A. Household. The income and the size of the household are determined by the members of the household at the time of application.

B.Household income. The case manager calculates the sum of the last four weeks of income, excluding income that is no longer received, of each household member (except dependent children) and excluding and including sources of income as provided in this section. If the last four weeks of income does not accurately reflect the income anticipated in the future, the case manager will use documentation and other information provided by the applicant to make a best estimate of income for the following four weeks.

(1)Included income. Unless specifically excluded, include all income of all household members, except children, including the following:

Wages and Salaries before Deductions

Net Non-farmSelf-Employment

Net FarmSelf-Employment

Regular Payments from Social Security

Railroad Retirement

Strike Benefits from Unions

Workers'Compensation

Training Stipends (but not CSSP training stipends)

Wages Subsidized by OJT Contracts

Alimony

Military Family Allotments/Other Regular Support

Pensions -Private

Government/Military Retirement

Regular Insurance/Annuity Payments

Dividends/Interest

Net Rental Income/Net Royalties

Periodic Receipts from Estates or Trusts

Net Gambling or Lottery Winnings

Vocational Rehabilitation Payments

(2)Excluded Income. The following income is excluded in determining household income:

Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Unemployment Compensation

Child Support

Payments AmeriCorps

Living Allowances

Social Security Old Age Survivors Insurance (OASI) & Survivor's Benefit

Payments

TANF* Refugee Assistance* General Assistance

Capital Gains

Foster Care Child Payments

Assets Withdrawn from a Bank

Sale of Property/House/Car

Tax Refunds

Earned Income Tax Credit

Field Placements

Gifts

Loans

Lump-Sum Inheritances

One-time Insurance Payments

Student Loans

One-time Compensation Payments for Injuries

Non-Cash Benefits, including, but not limited to:

Employer Paid Fringe Benefits

Food/Housing Received in Lieu of Wages

Medicare

Medicaid

Food Stamps*

School Meals

Housing Assistance

Supplemental Security Income

TAA/TRA Payments

All federal and state need-based financial aid resources granted through the financial aid award process

Income of dependent children

Income earned while the veteran was on active military duty and certain other veterans' benefits, i.e., compensation for service-connected disability, compensation for service connected death, vocational rehabilitation, and education assistance.

Any income that the household no longer receives.

* Households receiving TANF, Food Stamps or Refugee Assistance are categorically deemed to meet the financial eligibility criteria of CSSP

C.Verification. Verification of facts relevant to CSSP eligibility criteria is accomplish edusing the same procedures as is required in Maine by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),except that the previous four weeks of included income must be verified with documentation (for example, wage stubs or an employer's statement or other documentation).

3.Period of eligibility . Once an applicant is fully eligible for and enrolled in CSSP they remain eligible until the completion of her or his education and training program pursuant to Section 6.13.A, the participant is terminated from the program after notice of termination and the opportunity to appeal or the participant has voluntarily withdrawn from CSSP.

4.Termination from CSSP . A participant shall be terminated from CSSP if the participant has failed to make satisfactory progress pursuant to Section 6; the participant voluntarily withdraws from CSSP, fails to provide documentation of satisfactory progress, falsifies or misrepresents CSS Peligibility, training or support service need, or has misused funds or refused to cooperate pursuant to Section 6. Participants terminated from CSSP for intentionally falsifying or misrepresenting information under Section 2.4 are not eligible to reapply to CSSP. No case manager may send a notice of termination from CSSP before his or her supervisor has reviewed the matter and approved.

5.Emergency Leave or Gap in Program Services. Participants may request to be placed in a gap for a maximum of 52 weeks under circumstances beyond their control. While placed in a gap, the participant will not be eligible to receive any CSSP program services. Participants terminated due to exhausting allowable gap time have the option to reapply to the CSSP program during an open application period.

12- 597 C.M.R. ch. 2, § 2