DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

(1) When can I be exempted from participating in WorkFirst activities if I am a mandatory participant?

Either you or the other parent (living in the household) can claim an infant exemption from participating in WorkFirst activities provided you:

(a) Have a child under one year of age;

(b) Choose to not fully participate in the WorkFirst program (see WAC 388-310-0400); and

(c) Have not used up your lifetime twelve-month infant exemption.

(2) If I choose my infant exemption, can I still be required to participate in the WorkFirst program?

You are required to participate up to twenty hours per week in parenting education or parent skills training, mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment if:

(a) The comprehensive evaluation or assessment indicates a need; and

(b) Services are available in your community.

(3) Can I volunteer to participate in WorkFirst while I have a child under one?

You may choose to fully participate in WorkFirst (see WAC 388-310-0400) while you have a child under one year of age. If you decide later to stop participating and you still qualify for an exemption, you will be put back into exempt status with no financial penalty provided you meet conditions (1) and (2) above.

(4) Does an infant exemption from participation affect my sixty-month time limit for receiving TANF or SFA benefits?

Even if you are exempt from participation, each month you receive a TANF/SFA grant counts toward your sixty-month limit (see WAC 388-484-0005).

(1) How do I know if I am eligible to participate in pregnancy to employment?

If you are on TANF/SFA and are pregnant or have a child under the age of one year, you are a participant in the pregnancy to employment pathway.

(2) What services are provided to the pregnancy to employment pathway?

(a) The pregnancy to employment pathway provides you with services, when available in your community, to help you learn how to work, look for work, or prepare for work while still meeting your child's needs. You and your case manager or social worker will decide which variety of services you need such as:

(i) Parenting education or parenting skills training;

(ii) Safe and appropriate child care;

(iii) Mental health treatment;

(iv) Chemical dependency treatment;

(v) Domestic violence services; or

(vi) Employment services.

(b) The case manager or social worker will contact you every three months to offer you services if you are not required to participate and choose to claim the infant exemption.

(3) What am I required to do while I am in the pregnancy to employment pathway?

You must participate in an assessment with a DSHS social worker and based on the results you will:

(a) Work with your case manager/social worker to decide which required activities best meet your needs. These activities will depend on where you are in the pregnancy or the age of your child and will be added to your individual responsibility plan (IRP).

(b) Be required to participate in the activities identified in your IRP.

(4) What am I required to do while I am pregnant?

Based upon the results of your assessment, your participation:

(a) During your first and second trimester of pregnancy will be full-time work, looking for work, or preparing for work unless you have a good reason to participate fewer hours (see WAC 388-310-1600).

(b) During your third trimester of pregnancy will be up to twenty hours per week in parenting education or parenting skills training, mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment if:

(i) The comprehensive evaluation or assessment indicates a need; and

(ii) Services are available in your community.

(5) What am I required to do after my child is born?

After the birth of your child, you may choose to take the infant exemption (See WAC 388-310-0300) or volunteer to participate in WorkFirst activities to the fullest of your abilities (see WAC 388-310-0400).

(6) What if I have used my twelve-month lifetime infant exemption?

If you have another child after using all twelve months of the infant exemption, you will be:

(a) Eligible for a twelve-week postpartum deferral period to personally take care of an infant less than twelve weeks of age. During the twelve-week postpartum deferral period, you will be required to participate up to twenty hours per week in mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment if the comprehensive evaluation or assessment indicates a need and services are available in your community.

(b) Required (unless otherwise exempt or you have good reason to participate fewer hours) to participate full-time, once your child turns twelve-weeks old. Activities in which you are required to participate include one or more of the following:

(i) Work;

(ii) Looking for work; or

(iii) Preparing for work by participating in a combination of activities based upon the results of your assessment.

(7) Will I be sanctioned if I refuse to participate?

(a) You are required to participate in the WorkFirst program (see WAC 388-310-0200) subject to sanction (see WAC 388-310-1600) unless you have good reason and you:

(i) Are in your third trimester of pregnancy; or

(ii) Have not used up your twelve-month lifetime infant exemption and have a child under the age of one year; or

(iii) Have used up your twelve-month lifetime infant exemption and have a child under twelve weeks.

(b) You may be sanctioned if you stop participating in required parenting education or parenting skills training, mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment even if you are in your third trimester, claiming the infant exemption, or using a twelve-week postpartum deferral period.