Section 707.160 - Supported Work ComponentThe Supported Work Component provides education, training, employment and support services that an individual needs to obtain and maintain employment. This component consists of Pre-worksite training and Worksite placement. Participation is subject to available program resources, the individual's approved Employment Development Plan (EDP) and the criteria in 106 CMR 707.160(A)(2) and (B).
(A)Pre-worksite Training. A participant in Pre-worksite training may engage in the following activities to prepare him or her to obtain and maintain employment.(1) Activities may include, but are not limited to:(d) job retention strategies;(f) job development and placement services; and(g) other job related training such as vocational skills training, English for Employment and basic literacy instruction.(2)Participation Criteria. The following are the criteria for participation in Pre-worksite training:(a) a participant shall be an active client as determined by the Department;(b) an individual may participate in a Pre-worksite training on a full-time or part-time basis but the training program must be scheduled for at least 20 hours of activity per week; and(c) the participant must attend the scheduled hours per week, unless good cause applies as defined by 106 CMR 701.380: Good Cause Criteria.(B)Worksite Placement.(1) A participant who has completed at least 40 hours of Pre-worksite training shall participate in Worksite employment. An eligible Worksite participant shall engage in a highly supervised, subsidized or unsubsidized job placement at a public or private sector worksite.
(2) The following are the criteria for participation in Worksite employment: (a) the Department requires at least 30 hours full-time work participation on a Worksite job; or(b) if 30 hours of Worksite work is not available, full-time participation can be a combination of training or education programs offered by the Supported Work contractor and a minimum of 20 hours of work at a Worksite.(3) TAFDC eligibility for Worksite participants shall be determined by considering the following: (a) an individual who is participating in Worksite employment shall be paid by the Supported Work contractor, if it is a subsidized placement, or by the Worksite employer, if it is an unsubsidized placement;(b) wages received through Worksite employment are countable earned income; and(c) the grant of a Worksite participant shall be calculated in accordance with 106 CMR 704.500: Calculation of the Grant Amount. However, if the participant's financial eligibilty for TAFDC ends because the participant's Worksite earnings are increased, the TAFDC case will stay as active, but with a "zero" TAFDC payment amount, as long as the participant works at the Worksite Placement.
The participant and all members of the assistance unit shall be considered to be receiving TAFDC.
Adopted by Mass Register Issue 1360, eff. 3/9/2018.