Background

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program is the federal government´s primary cash assistance program for low-income families. Authorized by Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, TANF is designed to provide temporary support while families work to achieve self-sufficiency. Federal law requires most able-bodied adults receiving cash assistance to work at least 30 hours a week. States must show that at least 90 percent of adults in two-parent households and at least 50 percent of all adults are working the required number of hours each week, or face fiscal penalties. Several ?work activities? also are potentially allowable, including on-the-job training, community service and education directly related to employment.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is committed to the goals of self-sufficiency and to strengthening Ohio families through the delivery of integrated solutions to their temporary challenges. It also recognizes that low-income working families generally receive less in food assistance benefits than they spend on food, tend not to receive TANF cash assistance, and experience increased costs as a result of being employed.

As a result, Governor Kasich signed Executive Order 2011-19K providing ODJFS the authority to develop a new state-sponsored program called Ohio Works Now. Ohio Works Now will issue additional food benefits to employed needy families with children who are receiving food assistance benefits. Although these additional food assistance benefits will be added to recipients´ Ohio Direction Cards, Ohio Works Now will be administered as part of the TANF program, with benefits issued from state maintenance-of-effort (MOE) funds.

Ohio Administrative Code Rule 5101:1-2-50 has been created to implement the Ohio Works Now program.

Implementation

If no revisions are made to this rule prior to its finalization by the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, it will become effective on a permanent basis on January 1, 2012. If changes are necessary, a copy of the revised rule will be forwarded to you at that time.

This rule will not affect the eligibility of applicants or recipients for cash assistance, food assistance or Medicaid, and it will not affect the way county agencies administer these programs. The following is a brief description of the new rule.

5101:1-2-50 Ohio works now

Eligibility

To be eligible for Ohio Works Now benefits:

• An assistance group receiving Food Assistance must include a minor child and the biological or adoptive parents of the minor child, or a pregnant woman with no other children who is in at least her sixth month of pregnancy; and
• The employed individual must be considered a work-eligible individual; and
• The employed individual must work at least:

• 20 hours/week (86 hours/month) for families with one parent in the home if the youngest child is under age 6;
• 30 hours/week (129 hours/month) for families with one parent in the home if the youngest child is age 6 or older; or
• 55 hours/week (237 hours/month) for families with two parents in the home, with at least 30 hours/week (129 hours/month) completed by one parent.

Individuals must receive Food Assistance benefits but cannot receive TANF cash assistance benefits in any given month that they also receive Ohio Works Now benefits. Only one Ohio Works Now benefit will be issued per assistance group, regardless of the composition of the assistance group.

TANF requirements - such as time limits, self-sufficiency contracts, and child support assignment and enforcement cooperation - are not applicable to this program.

Issuance

Ohio Works Now benefits will be loaded onto recipients' Ohio Direction Cards, which is the electronic benefit transfer card used to distribute Food Assistance benefits. Ohio Works Now benefits are Food Assistance benefits, not cash benefits, and can be spent only as permitted in Ohio's Food Assistance Program.

Assistance groups will receive a monthly notice about their eligibility for Ohio Works Now. Case information about the benefit will be available in CRIS-E.

Instructions:

The following chart identifies the material that should be removed from the Cash Assistance Manual and the material that should be added.