1. MAINE Works! TANF and ASPIRE Programs DHHS Office for Family Independence

2. Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 2 Welcome to the MAINE Works! TANF and ASPIRE Programs Orientation

3. MAINE Works! Programs That Can Help You Support Your Family Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 3 TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Cash assistance while the family works toward self-sufficiency 60-month (5 year) Lifetime limit Time on TANF while living in any other state counts toward your TANF Lifetime limit ASPIRE: Additional Support for People In Retraining and Employment Maine’s Welfare-to-Work program Works with parents who receive TANF to help the adults become employed and self-sufficient Employment, education, training If you receive TANF benefits, you are required to participate in ASPIRE/work activities

4. MAINE Works! Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 4 The goal of ASPIRE is to help you find a and increase your income so that you can support your family without TANF benefits.

5. ASPIRE Partners Partner Agencies provide specialized services to help ASPIRE participants get job-ready, find a job, and become self- sufficient. Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 5  Child Care  Education  Assessment  Job Search & Worksite Development

6. Child Care Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 6 ASPIRE Partners

7. Education Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 7 ASPIRE Partners

8. AVAP: ASPIRE Vocational Assessment Program Vocational Assessment Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 8 ASPIRE Partners  Explore your work history, interests, and skills  Learn which jobs are a good match for you!

9. …about the ASPIRE Vocational Assessment Program “What they said…” Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 9

10. Online Job Bank Job Exploration Work Experience Job Interviews Job Search & Worksite Development Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 10 ASPIRE Partners Job Search Preparing for Work Community Service Resume Writing

11. DSER: Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery The role of DSER is to:  locate non-custodial parents,  establish paternity,  establish child support orders, and  collect child support. Child Support (DHHS DSER) Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 11 ASPIRE Partners

12. Child Support (DHHS DSER) Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 12 ASPIRE Partners  While on TANF, DSER must collect child support to offset the cost of public assistance.  Helping DSER collect child support may result in more income for your household. Contact DSER at 1-800-371-7179 (24/7) E-mail: case.review@maine.gov

13. Benefits of Employment Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence Become self-sufficient Provide for your family Be a good role model for your children Work is better than public assistance!

14. 3-person TANF benefit: $ 485/month If you earned $8.00 per hour: 20 hours per week: 688/month 40 hours per week: 1,376/month See How Work Pays! Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 14 Employment

15. SAVINGS $$$$$$$ for your own home, to start your own business, for education expenses To sign up contact: The Maine Family Development Account Coalition 1-800-442-2092 Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 15 What is a Family Development Account? Family Development Account

16. What is a Family Development Account? A Family Development Account (FDA) is a matched savings account. Every dollar deposited can be matched by four additional dollars. Your Savings  FDA Match = Total Savings 16

17. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working families EITC is an incentive to work! A family with qualifying children may receive a refund of: Over $3000 (1 child) Almost $6000 (3 or more children) Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 17

18. Your Responsibilities on TANF/ASPIRE Prepare for work Attend all meetings Build job skills – write a resume – practice interviewing Look for work CareerCenter – Help Wanted – Job Banks Work! Until you find a full-time job, preparing for work and looking for work IS YOUR JOB! Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 18

19. o Household Changes (people in or out) o Expense Changes (rent, utilities, other) o Income Changes Job start or end Unemployment Income, Social Security, VA, etc. Money received from other sources MyMaineConnection, Kiosk, Phone Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 19 Report changes within ten (10) days

20. TANF Eligibility- may be determined TODAY Initial ASPIRE Assessment- will be completed TODAY Get your Vocational Assessment (AVAP) scheduled TODAY. Develop your Family Contract Amendment (employment plan) with ASPIRE Follow the plan and complete the requirements agreed upon in your Family Contract Amendment Next Steps Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 20

21. Good Cause Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence  You must keep all ASPIRE-related appointments.  If you do not, you must have ‘Good Cause’ to miss them. You will need to provide proof of your reason for Good Cause.  ASPIRE determines whether Good Cause exists. 21

22. Sanction Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence No “Good Cause” = Sanction issued by ASPIRE Not showing up for ASPIRE could cost you:  TANF benefits will be reduced or ended  Food Supplement benefits will be reduced or ended  ASPIRE Support Services will end Not showing up for work, without a good reason, could cost you your job. 22

23. Physical or mental health, substance abuse, legal or family issues ? Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 23 Talk with your ASPIRE Specialist & AVAP worker. Is something keeping you from working right now ?

24. Childcare Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 24 Preparing for Work ASPIRE can help you pay for child care while you are working, or in job training o Reliable provider + back-up plan o You choose your provider, but unlicensed providers need a background check

25. Other Financial Supports Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 25 Preparing for Work Transportation, car repairs, car insurance Tuition and fees, books and supplies Clothing and uniforms, work tools, licenses ASPIRE can help with some of the expenses you need to become independent.

26. Life After TANF Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 26 Transitional Food Assistance Child Care Assistance Medical coverage Transportation Child Support Collection

27. Distribution of TANF benefits Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 27  Payment directly to a vendor (such as a landlord)  Direct deposit to your bank account

28. Distribution of TANF benefits Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 28  Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card  Approved uses of TANF benefits: Costs such as rent, utilities, diapers  State law prohibits EBT cash transactions in: Retail stores where more than half of the gross revenue comes from the sale of liquor Gambling facilities Adult entertainment establishments

29. What is Welfare Fraud? Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 29 Welfare Fraud is the intentional misuse of the State’s welfare systems by withholding information or giving false, inaccurate and misleading information; using public assistance benefits in an impermissible way, such as selling or trading benefits for cash or drugs.

30. Fraud vs Intentional Program Violation Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 30 The primary difference between Fraud and an Intentional Program Violation (IPV), is that Fraud is commonly considered a crime and an IPV is a violation of program rules. An IPV is considered to be a lesser included offense of Fraud – so, any Fraud offenses would be an IPV, however, not all IPV offenses are Fraud. Criminal charges are filed by the Office of the Attorney General and IPV’s are Administratively charged by DHHS.

31. Frequently Found Violations Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 31 Household Composition Marital Status Involvement of Non- Custodial Parent Deprivation Unreported Income Unreported Assets Falsify Residence Unreported Other Benefits Theft by Deception Falsify Information Forgery Misuse or Trafficking of Public Benefits Instrument Dual Participation

32. If TANF/ASPIRE Aren’t Right For You Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 32  ‘2-1-1Maine’ Phone: 2-1-1, toll free Email: info@211info.org Web: http://211maine.org/

33. Responsibilities Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence Attend all ASPIRE appointments Participate in ASPIRE activities Participate in work or work-related activities Look for work or prepare for work You have to do your part.

34. What’s Next? Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 34 Meet with ASPIRE for initial assessment Schedule your Vocational Assessment (AVAP) Sign up for online job bank Find child care Begin a TANF required work activity

35. Your Questions Department of Health and Human Services – Office for Family Independence 35

36. MAINE Works! DHHS Office for Family Independence