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Granting work requirement waivers to states through HHS.

Posted: Jul 16, 2012

I can only find spotty information on this. From what I can find, Obama has given HHS the authority to grant waivers to states to "relax" enforcement of the work requirement part of the 1996 welfare reform billl (TANF). The part that confused me was this:

“The Secretary [of HHS] is interested in using her authority to approve waiver demonstrations to challenge states to engage in a new round of innovation that seeks to find more effective mechanisms for helping families succeed in employment.”

What would be more effective to succeed in employment than getting a job? I'm also trying to understand how HHS has the authority to grant these waivers. Need more information from both sides, please.

;

More info needed. Who would be given waivers? - nm

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States that ask for them. - Zville MT

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From what I can find, Nevada is one of them. To clarify, these would not be granted to individuals, only to states who could then change the requirements for what would constitute work as part of the work requirement for welfare.

But why? Are they people on welfare who cannot find - sm

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employment due to high unemployment rates? Community service would be a good option o yin exchange for a monthly check. Still, more info needed. Do you have a source?

Here's what I found as to why... - Zville MT

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In a memo to states issued late Thursday, the US Health and Human Services Department said it is interested in approving state experiments that will help ‘‘find more effective mechanisms for helping families succeed in employment.’’

But I don't understand it - does this mean community service, etc.? - and all I can find are articles either slamming or exalting the idea - no real explanation of what it really is. That was why I was hoping to get some real information - maybe someone that has a better source than I've been able to find.

Interesting. Thank you. I would like to hear more. - nm

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Not exactly. It's extensive employment assessment - such as

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job skills, educational level, previous training, work history, capabilities, employment barriers, etc. After assessment, specific employment objectives are identified and an individual development plan (IEP) is established. The program partners with government agencies, nonprofits and private sector employers who agree initially to provide SUBSIDIZED employment for 20 hours per week at minimum wage in exchange for workplace skills enhancement opportunities. In the meantime, participants may take advantage of GED, ESL and literacy programs, computer training, resume workshops, etc, and other supportive services ALREADY ESTABLISHED in the state's One-Stop workforce commission locations.

The IDP establishes certain benchmarks the participant has to achieve in order to advance through the phases of the program. The second phase involves these same partners plus other private sector employers who provide specific on-the-job training (as opposed to simple skills enhancement). Some of these are subsidized, but most aren't. They typically offer more hours, higher pay and some have benefits.

Ultimately, the aim is to transition the participant out of subsidized employment into a decent job that pays a living wage. These programs usually have a limitation on the duration one can participate, some of them as long as 4 years. This give ample time for individuals (particularly those who have been long-term unemployed) to acquire marketable skills and to offer realtime recent employment experience on their resumes....that is, of course, if the powers that be have not outsourced everything out from under everybody in the meantime.

Waiver only applies to TANF. That's why Secy of HHS - has this authority

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since TANF is administered by them. Also, the waiver authority is narrowly confined to provisions found in Section 1115 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1315] and Section 402 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 602]. The first link below is an HHS info memo that seeks to clarify the policy.

There is virtually no emphasis placed on waiving work requirements for TANF recipients per se and it certainly is not the main thrust of the policy changes discussed in the memo. In fact, the aim is to improve employment outcomes for recipients. Improvement would NOT consist of recipients holding down 2 or 3 dead-end part time minimum wage jobs 7 days a week that still fail to achieve financial independence while leaving latch-key kids home alone.

I am going to take a wild guess at what is meant by "innovative approaches" such waivers are designed to encourage states to pursue. Aside from TANF recipients, another segment of the unemployed population that presents formidable challenges to re-employment programs are low-income seniors who are not yet retired or who cannot afford to retire. There is a program established under the Older Workers Act called SCSEP (Senior Community Service Employment Program) that targets this population, ages 55+. The program used to be administered under the Department of Labor but last year when the budget was passed, it was transferred from the DOL to the DHHS Administration on Aging. How the program is staged is well described in the second link, which is another info memo put out by the DOL last year. In my area, they have had really good success in terms of program completion and with job placements in unsubsidized employment positions for its participants. Our regional SCSEP "Employee of the Year" for 20l1 was 101 years old!

If you are really interested to see what "innovative approaches" look like, you might want to check it out. I can see how this program could easily be modified to service all segments of the TANF recipients.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/policy/im-ofa/2012/im201203/im201203.html

http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/html_docs/docs/96-1.cfm

Thanks for the links! - Zville MT

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I'll definitely do some reading :)

YW. Would be interested to hear - what you think about the program.

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If you come across any more specifics about the TANF program objectives, please share. I was only guessing they were talking about something similar to SCSEP. The TANF target population presents some more complex situations the program would have to address (child care comes to mind) that SCSEP does not, though SCSEP does help their applicants out with such things as transportation, disabilities, medical problems, clothing and uniform expenses, even food security, whenever applicable.

While reading about SCSEP, I've come across the word (state) "mandate" several times, meaning the state is required by law to provide these sevices for seniors. My impression is that TANF recipients did not have work rquirement mandates in place prior to this policy change until after they had received benefits for 24 months, though I could be mistaken. Personally, I think these measures should kick in much sooner than that.

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