A-2150, Pay for Performance

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF

If the household does not cooperate with one or more PRA requirements for two consecutive months, the household loses TANF cash assistance and the family must demonstrate cooperation with all PRA requirements for 30 days before they are eligible to receive TANF cash assistance. This is referred to as pay for performance. Advisors must verify that the family has not cooperated by the end of the second consecutive month before applying the pay for performance policy. The 30 days of demonstrated cooperation starts when the family cooperated with the PRA requirement. Note: If cooperation was established before the application date, the 30 days of cooperation begins on the file date.

A household may reapply for TANF assistance under pay for performance after the second noncooperation month. Deny a TANF application, filed before the last day of the second noncooperation month as filed in error. Exception: Do not deny the TANF application if the appointment is scheduled after the second noncooperation month. At the interview, have the individual review Form H1010 and re-sign it. The file date is the first day of the interview month. Document the reason the file date changed.

Note: When a TANF applicant with an open PRA penalty applies for One-Time Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (OTTANF), the individual must demonstrate cooperation with all open noncooperations before being considered TANF-eligible. See A-2400 for OTTANF policy.

A—2151 Open Penalty at Reapplication in Pay for Performance

Revision 19-3; Effective July 1, 2019

TANF

If the TANF applicant or second parent is in pay for performance status because of failure to cooperate with ... then ...
Choices The person must cooperate with Choices requirements for 30 days if they are not eligible for a Choices exemption. Refer the person to the local workforce solutions office with Form H2588, Workforce Orientation Referral, indicating they are subject to pay for performance. Remind the person to contact the local workforce solutions office within 10 days to allow enough time to demonstrate 30 days of cooperation. Pend the application until the 40th day after the interview date, and:
  • end the penalty the month of cooperation if notice of cooperation is received by the 40th day after the interview date and certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • deny the application if the workforce solutions office:
    • has not sent a notice of cooperation by the 40th day after the interview date; or
    • send Form H2588 indicating the person cannot demonstrate 30 days of cooperation before the 40th day after the interview date.

      The person must complete another application and restart the eligibility process.

      Note: Choices staff will sign off on the Form H2588 after the person attends the workforce orientation. Staff should not end a Choices penalty until an electronic notice of demonstrated cooperation is received through the automated interface.
Child support The person must cooperate with child support requirements. Refer the person to the OAG and pend the application until the 30th day after the file date. If the person:
  • complies by the 30th day after the file date, end the penalty the month of cooperation and continue pending the application until the 30th day after the cooperation date and certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • has not complied with the OAG by the 30th day after the file date, deny the application.
Voluntary quit The person must cure the voluntary quit. Verify the person has obtained employment of 30 hours or more per week, or is eligible for a Choices exemption. If the person is employed on the interview date or is eligible for a Choices exemption, pend the application until the 30th day after the file date for proof of cooperation, and if the person:
  • complies by the 30th day after the file date, end the penalty the month verification is provided, continue pending the application until the 30th day after the cooperation date and certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • is not employed for 30 hours per week or eligible for a Choices exemption, deny the application.
Texas Health Steps The person must cooperate with Texas Health Steps requirements. Refer the person to the local Texas Health Steps staff using Form H1087, or Texas Health Steps regional hotline. Pend the application until the 30th day after the file date for proof of cooperation, and if:
  • the person complies by the 30th day after the file date, end the penalty the month the person provides verification of medical screening and continue pending the application until the 30th day after the cooperation date. Certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • verification is not provided by the 30th day after the file date, deny the application.
Immunizations The person must cooperate with immunization requirements. Pend the application until the 30th day after the file date for proof of cooperation. If:
  • the person cooperates by the 30th day after the file date, end the penalty the month verification is provided and continue pending the application until the 30th day after the cooperation date. Certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • verification is not provided by the 30th day after the file date, deny the application.
School attendance The person must cooperate with school attendance requirements. Pend the application until the 40th day after the interview date, and
  • end the penalty the month school attendance is verified and certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • deny the application if verification is not provided by the 40th day after the interview date.
Parenting skills The person must cooperate with parenting skills requirements. Pend the application until the 30th day after the file date, and if
  • the person cooperates by the 30th day after the file date, end the penalty the month completion is verified and continue pending the application until the 30th day after the cooperation date. Certify the application effective the:
    • month after the second forfeit month; or
    • 30th day from the file date if after the second forfeit month; or
  • verification is not provided by the 30th day after the file date, deny the application.
Drugs and alcohol When a person fails to cooperate with the drug and alcohol PRA requirement, the person is considered as back in cooperation status the month following the month of noncooperation, unless staff discover a second separate noncooperation in the month following the first noncooperation month. See A-2128.

Notes:

  • When pending the EDG for verification of cooperation with PRA requirements, other than Choices or school attendance, document the following in the comments section of Form H1020: Your application cannot be certified earlier than the 30th day from the date of cooperation with (enter the PRA requirement). Su solicitud sólo se puede certificar 30 días después de la fecha de cumplimiento con los requisitos relacionados con (enter the PRA requirement).
    • Child Support – la manutención de niños
    • Voluntary Quit – la renuncia voluntaria al trabajo
    • Texas Health Steps (enter name of child) – Pasos Sanos de Texas (enter name of child)
    • Immunizations (enter name of child) – las inmunizaciones (enter name of child)
    • Parenting Skills – la capacitación para ser buenos padres
    • Drugs/Alcohol – las drogas y el alcohol

Note: TIERS automatically documents this information on the Form H1020.

  • If the person reapplies in pay for performance, but does not have any open penalties, the 30 days of cooperation begins on the file date.
  • Explore Medicaid eligibility for the children and eligible adults.
  • If a person has an open Choices, Voluntary Quit or Parenting Skills penalty and is now a payee, the person does not have to demonstrate cooperation.

A—2152 A Second Noncooperation During Pay for Performance

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF

The household must reapply in pay for performance to qualify for TANF cash assistance. An individual with an open penalty at application must cooperate with the PRA requirement that caused the penalty and demonstrate PRA cooperation for 30 days.

When a household reapplies for TANF during pay for performance and the advisor discovers a household member fails to cooperate with a second or subsequent PRA requirement:

  • Before or during the reapplication interview, allow the individual to demonstrate cooperation for the initial and second or subsequent noncooperation. Pend the application for the required 30- or 40-day time period to allow demonstrated cooperation for the initial and second or subsequent penalty. If the household:
    • cooperates with both the initial and subsequent penalties, close the initial penalty and certify the application. Document that the household cooperated with the second or subsequent penalty.
    • cooperates with the initial penalty, but not second or subsequent penalty, close the initial penalty, open the second or subsequent penalty and deny the application as a result of the second or subsequent noncooperation.
    • fails to cooperate with the initial penalty, leave the penalty open and deny the application. Do not open a second or subsequent penalty.
  • After the interview, deny the TANF reapplication. The initial penalty remains open. Open the second or subsequent penalty.

Note: Explore Medicaid eligibility for the children and eligible adults.