NEWS: Work First Cash Assistance Process to Change Oct. 1

9/28/2009

North Carolina counties are implementing payment process changes to Work First, a federal program that provides temporary assistance funding to needy families through state agencies. Beginning Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, Family Assistance checks for more than 950 Wake County families will not be mailed until participants verify that they have followed through on their program requirements.

The change affects only those families who have a work-eligible adult included in the payment, and one-time crisis prevention checks will be mailed to participants by Oct. 14, 2009.

"We understand that this may be a difficult transition for some of our clients and impact their ability to pay bills in October," said Wake County Work First Program Manager Barbara Harris. "We want to make sure that everyone – participants, landlords and others in the community – are aware of this change."

Program participants were notified of the change in September, and Wake County has notified clients via phone and in person as they come to County buildings.

Historically, Work First checks were received on the first day of each month. The new policy, referred to as Work First Benefits, will require families to prove that they have followed through on individualized program requirements by the fifth work day of the month. If participants have completed the activities in their Mutual Responsibility Agreement, and verification is validated, the check will be released to participants within three days.

Work First, North Carolina’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, is designed to help parents become employed and self-sufficient. The program provides parents with temporary assistance such as training opportunities, transportation to and from work, cash assistance, Medicaid and childcare. Including Child-Only cases, which are not affected by this new policy, there are over 2,540 Work First families in Wake County.

More information can be found at the Work First Web site. Wake County residents can contact Wake’s Work First Program at 212-7762 for more information.

 

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