Ohio approved verbal signatures and an extension of
certification periods for the Comprehensive Case Management Employment Program
(CCMEP) in Procedure Letter #6, dated March 30, 2020 after Governor Mike
DeWine declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Ohio (Executive
Order 2020-01D) to protect the well-being of the residents of Ohio from
COVID-19. The State of Emergency was lifted on June 18, 2021.
As a result, Ohio is rescinding the part of Procedure Letter #6
that allowed verbal signatures effective July 30, 2021. Ohio will still allow
TANF eligibility to be extended one time for 6 months as promulgated in
Procedure Letter #6 since this policy change will be updated in 5101:14-1-05 of
the Ohio Administrative Code by the end of 2021.
This extension allows lead agencies to wait to recertify TANF
eligibility for one year instead of 6 months as long as the lead agency is not
aware of information that would make a participant lose their TANF
eligibility. An example of when a lead
agency would be aware of TANF eligibility is when a participant is placed in
employment with an annual salary above 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.