Part 503. Transitional Employment Assistance and Work Pays Policy Manual

20 CAR § 503-1203. Types of overpayments. (a) The following types of overpayments will be reported: (1) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance (Transitional Employment Assistance Program and Work Pays); (2) Reimbursements for work-related activity expenses; (3) R…

20 CAR § 503-1204. Determining the overpayment amount to be reported. (a) The policy, procedures, and income eligibility standards in effect at the time the participant was overpaid will be used to determine the overpayment amount. (b) Form DCO-199 will be used to report overpaym…

20 CAR § 503-1205. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance — Overpayments. (a)(1) When it is determined that a participant has received a transitional employment assistance (TEA) cash assistance or Work Pays payment to which he or she was not entitled, an overpaym…

20 CAR § 503-1206. Reimbursements/activity-related expenses — Overpayments. (a) When it is determined that a participant was reimbursed or received a payment for expenses related to work participation that he or she was not entitled to, an overpayment will be determined beginning…

20 CAR § 503-1207. Relocation — Overpayments. If it is determined that a relocation assistance payment was provided to a family and it was not used to relocate the family, an overpayment will be prepared for the overpaid amount. Example: Mr. Jones lives in Camden. He found a job …

20 CAR § 503-121. Engaging the participant in work activities. (a)(1) Based on information gathered during the assessment and employment planning, the participant is immediately engaged in work or one (1) or more work-related activities designed to move him or her into full-time …

20 CAR § 503-122. Work participation exemptions/deferrals. (a) If a participant claims an inability to engage in work activities, the Program Eligibility Specialist will discuss the reasons why the participant believes he or she is unable to participate. (b) If a participant is e…

20 CAR § 503-123. Allowable work activities. (a) Based on information gathered during the assessment and employment planning, the participant is immediately engaged in: (1) Work; or (2) One (1) or more work-related activities designed to move him or her into full-time employment …

20 CAR § 503-124. Unsubsidized employment. (a) Unsubsidized employment is a core activity defined as full-time or part-time employment in the public or private sector that is not directly supplemented by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or any other public program. (b)(1) …

20 CAR § 503-125. Subsidized employment — Private and public. (a)(1) The subsidized employment work activity is a core activity defined as employment for which the employer receives a subsidy from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or other public funds to offset some or all…

20 CAR § 503-126. On-the-job training. (a)(1) On-the-job training (OJT) is a core activity defined as training in the public or private sector given to a paid employee engaged in productive work and that provides knowledge and skills essential to the full and adequate performance…

20 CAR § 503-127. Job search and job readiness. (a) Job search and job readiness assistance is a core activity defined as seeking or obtaining employment or the preparation for seeking or obtaining employment. (b) Job search activities may include: (1) Making contact with potenti…

20 CAR § 503-128. Work experience. (a)(1) Work experience is a core activity defined as supervised, unpaid work in the public or private sector in exchange for assistance. (2) It provides a participant with the opportunity to gain the general skills, knowledge, and work habits ne…

20 CAR § 503-129. Community service. (a) Community service is a core activity defined as a structured program in which transitional employment assistance (TEA) participants perform work for the direct benefit of the community with public and nonprofit organizations. (b)(1) Commun…

20 CAR § 503-130. Career and technical education (formerly known as vocational education). (a)(1) It is the goal of the Transitional Employment Assistance Program that all participants receive services that best prepare them for long-term economic self-sufficiency. (2) To that en…

20 CAR § 503-1301. Responsibility for reporting the overpayment. (a) Overpayment reports will be submitted to the Central Office Overpayments Unit, Slot WG2. (b)(1) The Division of County Operations will complete and submit overpayments related to eligibility. (2) Supportive serv…

20 CAR § 503-1302. Responsibility of the Overpayment Unit. (a) The Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services will make the decision concerning the feasibility of repayment for all overpayments, taking into consideration whether they…

20 CAR § 503-1303. Collections. (a) The Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services will make the determination relative to the disposition of the claim when collection and/or fraud referrals are indicated. (b) When an agreement is re…

20 CAR § 503-131. Providing childcare services for participant enrolled in community service. (a)(1) This core activity is defined as structured activities in which a participant provides unpaid child care to enable another Temporary Assistance for Needy Families participant to p…

20 CAR § 503-132. Education directly related to employment. (a)(1) Education directly related to employment is a noncore activity defined as an educational program that is related to a specific: (A) Occupation; (B) Job; or (C) Job offer. (2) This activity is for participants who …

20 CAR § 503-133. Job skills training. (a) Job skills training is a noncore activity defined as training or education required by an employer to provide a participant with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of the workplace. (b) Job sk…

20 CAR § 503-134. Attendance at secondary school. (a)(1) Attendance at a secondary school is a noncore activity defined as high school attendance or participation in a GED preparation class. (2) This activity may be assigned to participants who lack a high school diploma or a GED…

20 CAR § 503-135. Minor parent participation requirements. (a)(1) For purposes of this section, "minor parent" means a parent under age eighteen (18). (2) The minor parent participation requirement applies to both the non-head of household minor parent and the head of household m…

20 CAR § 503-136. Minor parents supportive services. (a) All supportive services provided under transitional employment assistance (TEA) are available to minor parents with the exception of any that require the participant to have income or sign a legally binding contract. (b) Mi…

20 CAR § 503-137. Minor parent noncompliance. (a)(1) Failure to comply occurs when a minor parent who is subject to the minor parent work activity requirement fails to satisfactorily participate without good cause in education or vocational education training. (2) A minor parent …

20 CAR § 503-1401. Definitions. As used in this subpart: (1) “Hardship situation” means a situation in which the participant is in a state of being deprived of what is needed for basic subsistence, e.g., food, shelter, utilities; (2) “Recoupment” means withholding of a cash amoun…

20 CAR § 503-1402. General policy statement. (a) Overpayments and ineligible payments made to participants of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance are subject to recovery action. (b)(1) The policy of this state is that recovery of overpayments will be pursued. …

20 CAR § 503-1403. Recovery procedure. (a) All cases of ineligible payments and overpayments must be reported to the Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services as outlined in 20 CAR § 503-1204. (b) The Overpayment Unit will decide wh…

20 CAR § 503-1404. Recoupment restrictions. (a)(1) Overlapping or duplication of transitional employment assistance (TEA) by Supplemental Security Income is not subject to recoupment or restitution. (2) This will be handled by the Social Security Administration. (b) Restitution o…

20 CAR § 503-1405. Overpayment Processing Unit responsibility. If the decision is made by the Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services to recoup the overpayment by a deduction from the current assistance payment to the participant,…

20 CAR § 503-1406. Keeping the Overpayment Processing Unit informed. The appropriate office will promptly report, by memorandum to the Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services, any pertinent information (coming to its attention) th…

20 CAR § 503-1407. Contacts with participants. (a) If participants have questions concerning recovery letters received directly from the Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Department of Human Services, the county office will refer them to the Overpayment…

20 CAR § 503-1408. State income tax refund interception. (a) Acts 1983, No. 372, as amended (Arkansas Code § 26-36-318), and Acts 1985, No. 987, authorize the collection of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families overpayments through the interception of state income tax refunds. …

20 CAR § 503-1409. Cases eligible for intercept. (a) In order for a case to be submitted for a state tax refund intercept, the following conditions must be met: (1) The amount owed the state must be approved by the Overpayment Processing Unit of the Secretary’s Office of the Depa…

20 CAR § 503-1410. Allocation of state tax refund. A state tax refund intercepted to apply against debts to the state will normally be allocated as follows: (1)(A) When only one (1) overpayment claim exists, the refund will be applied against that claim. (B) Should the refund be …

20 CAR § 503-1411. State tax refund intercept (STRI) hearing procedures. (a) Requesting and scheduling a hearing. (1)(A) The taxpayer has thirty (30) days from the mailing date of the intercept notice to file a written request for a hearing. (B) All hearing requests will be sent …

20 CAR § 503-1501. Arkansas Work Pays Program generally. (a)(1) Acts 2005, No. 1705, established the Arkansas Work Pays Program. (2) The Arkansas Work Pays Program is an incentive program designed to encourage working Transitional Employment Assistance Program participants to rem…

20 CAR § 503-1502. Arkansas Work Pays Program eligibility requirements. (a) A participant must meet the following requirements: (1) Be employed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Arkansas Work Pays Program application; (2) Have care and custody of a related minor …

20 CAR § 503-1503. Arkansas Work Pays Program application process. (a)(1) For participants interested in applying for the Arkansas Work Pays Program, the application must be completed and submitted via mail, email, or fax to the Department of Human Services for initial eligibilit…

20 CAR § 503-1504. Determining initial eligibility. (a) Employed 30 days prior to application date. (1) For initial eligibility, the Program Eligibility Specialist will review the application to determine if the participant was employed at least thirty (30) days prior to the appl…

20 CAR § 503-1505. Application disposal. (a) The Department of Human Services worker will dispose of the application for the Arkansas Work Pays Program by either approval or denial within thirty (30) days from the date of application. (b) If the application is denied for failure …

20 CAR § 503-1506. Drug screenings. (a)(1) In accordance with Acts 2015, No. 1205, drug screenings of Arkansas Work Pays Program applicants and participants will be conducted during initial eligibility determination and continued eligibility redetermination/reevaluation. (2) The …

20 CAR § 503-1507. Career advancement plan. (a)(1) Participants may need assistance increasing incomes while on a job. (2) The participant may also need assistance learning the skills and behaviors to be a valued worker. (b)(1) The Program Eligibility Specialist will work with th…

20 CAR § 503-1508. Reevaluation. (a)(1) All Arkansas Work Pays Program cases will be reevaluated by the Department of Human Services processing unit every six (6) months to determine continued eligibility. (2) The following criteria must be met: (A) There must be an eligible chil…

20 CAR § 503-1509. Arkansas Work Pays Program ongoing case management. (a)(1) Case management is the process of coordinating and brokering the multiple services needed to achieve progress toward self-sufficiency. (2) Case management will provide the participant with sufficient in…

20 CAR § 503-1510. Work verification. (a)(1) The participant must provide biweekly verification of work hours or pay stubs for each week of every month. (2) The verification can be provided: (A) By fax; (B) By mail; (C) By scan and email; or (D) In person. (3) The agency will acc…

20 CAR § 503-1511. Allowable work activities. (a) For a description and additional information about the allowable work activities, refer to 20 CAR §§ 503-123 – 503-134. (b)(1) Paid work activities: (A) Unsubsidized employment (core); and (B) On-the-job training (core). (2) Note.…