R986-200-218. Exceptions to the Time Limit

  Exceptions to the time limit may be allowed for up to 20% of the average monthly number of families receiving financial assistance from FEP and FEPTP during the previous Federal fiscal year for the following reasons:

  (1) A hardship under Section 35A-3-306 is determined to exist when a parent:

  (a) is determined to be medically unable to work. The client must provide proof of inability to work in one of the following ways:

  (i) receipt of disability benefits from SSA;

  (ii) receipt of VA Disability benefits based on the parent being 100% disabled;

  (iii) placement on the Division of Services to People with Disabilities' waiting list. Being on the waiting list indicates the person has met the criteria for a disability; or

  (iv) is currently receiving Temporary Total or Permanent Total disability Workers' Compensation benefits;

  (v) a medical statement completed by a medical doctor, a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, a licensed Physician's Assistant, or a doctor of osteopathy, stating the parent has a medical condition supported by medical evidence, which prevents the parent from engaging in work activities capable of generating income of at least $500 a month. The statement must be completed by a professional skilled in both the diagnosis and treatment of the condition; or

  (vi) a statement completed by a licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed Mental Health Therapist as defined in UCA Section 58-60-102, or psychiatrist stating that the parent has been diagnosed with a mental health condition that prevents the parent from engaging in work activities capable of generating income of at least $500 a month. Substance abuse is considered the same as mental health condition;

  (b) is under age 19 through the month of their nineteenth birthday;

  (c) is currently engaged in an approved full-time job preparation activity which the parent was expected to complete within the 36 month time limit but completion within the 36 months was not possible through no fault of the parent;

  (d) was without fault and a delay in the delivery of services provided by the Department occurred. The delay must have had an adverse effect on the parent causing a hardship and preventing the parent from obtaining employment. An extension under this section cannot be granted for more than the length of the delay;

  (e) moved to Utah after exhausting 36 months of assistance in another state or states and the parent did not receive supportive services in that state or states as required under the provisions of PRWORA. To be eligible for an exception under this section, the failure to receive supportive services must have occurred through no fault of the parent and must contribute to the parent's inability to work. An exception under this section can never be for longer than the delay in services;

  (f) completed an educational or training program at the 36th month and needs additional time to obtain employment;

  (g) is unable to work because the parent is required in the home to meet the medical needs of a dependent. Dependent for the purposes of this paragraph means a person who the parent claims as a dependent on his or her income tax filing. Proof, consisting of a medical statement from a health care professional listed in subparagraph (1)(a)(v) or (vi) of this section is required unless the dependent is on the Travis C medicaid waiver program. The medical statement must include all of the following:

  (i) the diagnosis of the dependent's condition,

  (ii) the recommended treatment needed or being received for the condition,

  (iii) the length of time the parent will be required in the home to care for the dependent, and

  (iv) whether the parent is required to be in the home full-time or part-time; or

  (h) is currently receiving assistance under one of the exceptions in this section and needs additional time to obtain employment. A client can only receive assistance for one month under this subparagraph. If the Department determines that granting an exception under this subparagraph adversely impacts its federally mandated participation rate requirements or might otherwise jeopardize its funding, the one month exception will not be granted;

  (i) the client is currently participating in the Intergenerational Welfare Dependency Poverty Pilot Program, "Next Generation Kids" and needs additional time to obtain job training and preparation to decrease the risk of his/her children being part of intergenerational welfare dependency. This exception will not be available if the Pilot Program is to end; or

  (j) parents who volunteer to fully participate in a Department-approved employment and training activity. Department approval will only be granted if all the requirements of Department rule 986-200-211(1)(a) through (f) are met.

  (2) Additional months of financial assistance may be provided if the family includes an individual who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty which is a barrier to employment and the implementation of the time limit would make it more difficult to escape the situation. Battered or subjected to extreme cruelty means:

  (a) physical acts which resulted in, or threatened to result in, physical injury to the individual;

  (b) sexual abuse;

  (c) sexual activity involving a dependent child;

  (d) threats of, or attempts at, physical or sexual abuse;

  (e) mental abuse which includes stalking and harassment; or

  (f) neglect or deprivation of medical care.

  (3) Employment extension. An extension to the time limit can be granted for a maximum of an additional 24 months if during the previous two months, the parent client was employed for no less than 20 hours per week. The employment can consist of self-employment if the parent's net income from that self-employment is at or above minimum wage.

  (a) If, at the end of the 24-month extension, the parent client qualifies for an exception under subsections (1) or (2) of this section, an exception can be granted under the provisions of those sections.

  (b) A family cannot receive financial assistance for more than a total of 60 months unless an exception can be granted under subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

  (4) All clients receiving an extension or an exception must continue to participate, to the maximum extent possible, in an employment plan. This includes cooperating with ORS in the collection, establishment, and enforcement of child support and the establishment of paternity, if necessary.

  (5) If a household filing unit contains more than one parent, and one parent has received at least 36 months of assistance as a parent, then the entire filing unit is ineligible unless both parents meet one of the exceptions or extension listed above. Both parents need not meet the same exception or extension.

  (6) A family in which the only parent or both parents are ineligible aliens cannot be granted an extension under Section (3) above or for any of the reasons for an exception in Subsections (1)(c), (d), (e) or (f). This is because ineligible aliens are not legally able to work and supportive services for work, education and training purposes are inappropriate.

  (7) A client who is no longer eligible for financial assistance may be eligible for other kinds of public assistance including SNAP, Child Care Assistance and medical coverage. The client must follow the appropriate application process to determine eligibility for assistance from those other programs.

  (8) Exceptions and extensions are subject to a review at least once every six months.