10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 311, § II-II

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 144-311-II-II - Procedures for the Income Maintenance Unit

A. Mandatory Registration:

When it is determined that an applicant or recipient, (including children), 16 and over, is nonexempt, that individual will be informed that he must register with WIN as a condition of eligibility and advised of the consequences of failure to register and refusal to participate. The WIN Registration Record Form, complete with the signature of the registrant and the signature of the WIN representative, is received by Income Maintenance and filed in the case folder, the WIN registration requirement will be considered to be met. When the WIN Registration Record Form indicates that the individual has failed to register, the individual's needs will not be included In the determination of AFDC eligibility.

The Department of Manpower Affairs has agreed to process all referrals of mandatory individuals within five (5) working days from the receipt of the WIN Registration Referral. If, after seven (7) working days from the date of referral, the WIN Registration Record is not received, the Income Maintenance Unit will notify the WIN/MA Agency in writing that the WIN Registration Record has not been received. Within three (3) working days, the WIN/MA Agency will respond with either the completed WIN Registration Record or a memo stating the expected date of registration.

B. Voluntary Registration:

When an exempt individual wishes to voluntarily register for the WIN Program, the same procedures will be followed with the exception of presumptive registration after seven (7) working days.

Once registered, an individual will continue to-be registered until he has been deregistered by the WIN Agency.

C. Deregistration:

The WIN Manpower Agency is responsible for deregistering individuals from the WIN Program. Reasons for deregistration are:

1. Employed After Registration - Off AFDC: Deregistration shall be accomplished immediately upon notice from the IMU that the registrant's AFDC case has been closed because of increased earnings from employment.

2. Employed Volunteer - Not Off AFDC: Self-evident.

3. Applicant Not Eligible for AFDC: Deregistration shall he accomplished immediately upon notice from the IMU that a registrant with pending AFDC status has been found ineligible for AFDC.

4. Exempt: Deregistration shall he accomplished immediately upon notice from the IMU that a registrant's status has changed from nonexempt to exempt and does not volunteer. An exempt volunteer who wishes to withdraw will be deregistered immediately upon request.

5. Failure or Refusal to Participate: Any mandatory registrant who has been determined by the WIN/MA to have failed to appear for appraisal without good cause or to have refused to participate without good cause shall be deregistered. In the instance of a certified mandatory registrant, a deregistration will not be accomplished until the termination of counseling by the WIN Separate Administrative Unit.

When the Income Maintenance Unit receives a deregistration notice by reason of failure or refusal to participate, the individual's needs will be removed from the AFDC grant, and if the individual is the client/payee, a third party protective payment will he required. Pending the authorization of the third party payee, the individual's needs will be removed from the AFDC grant and such individual will be designated as payee only until the third party payee is authorized.

6. Off AFDC - Other: Deregistration will be accomplished immediately upon notice from the IMU that the registrant's case has been closed for any reason other than increased earnings from employment or failure or refusal to participate.

The Department of Manpower Affairs will notify Income Maintenance that deregistration has been accomplished by forwarding a copy of the WIN Status Change Notice Form whenever a registrant is deregistered. The copy will he filed in the case folder to serve as verification that the individual is now deregistered. When the WIN Manpower Agency receives a referral for mandatory registration and the WIN/MA considers that the individual is, in fact, exempt, a request for redetermination of exemption will be forwarded to the IMU and WIN/MA will state in writing to IMU reasons for the request. If IMU does not respond to the request within 30 days, the

WIN/MA will deregister the individual as exempt and notify IMU via the WIN Status Change Notice Form.

D. Mutual Reporting Responsibilities:

In addition to notices of registration and deregistrations, the Department of Manpower Affairs Agency will notify the Income Maintenance Unit whenever a registrant: (a) obtains employment or (b) enters a salaried WIN Component (OJT, PSE or Suspense). This information will be provided via the WIN Status Change Form, and upon receipt, the IMU will redetermine eligibility based upon the change in circumstances.

Income Maintenance will notify the WIN Manpower Agency when:

1. a registered applicant becomes a recipient

2. a registered applicant is denied

3. a mandatory registrant becomes exempt

4. an exempt recipient becomes mandatory

5. a working registrant loses employment

6. a nonworking registrant gains employment

7. a registered client is closed

8. a grant reduction occurs as the result of increased earnings of a registrant

9. a grant reduction occurs as the result of sanctions for failure to participate

E. Reviews of Exemptions:

Individuals with exempt status will have their exemptions reviewed by the Income Maintenance Unit as a part of the regular eligibility redetermination, except where an individual has been determined to be 65 years of age or older or to be permanently incapacitated or the expected duration of the incapacity is beyond the semi-annual redetermination date.

10- 144 C.M.R. ch. 311, § II-II