N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.611.10

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 8.102.611.10 - EDUCATION WORKS CASH ASSISTANCE

A. Subject to the availability of allocated state funds, the education works program (EWP) provides state-funded cash assistance to a benefit group where at least one individual is enrolled in a postsecondary, graduate or post-graduate institution. The applicant or recipient benefit group must be otherwise eligible for NMW cash assistance, but chooses to participate in EWP.

(1) The state-funded benefit amount is determined based on the same determination used to calculate the benefit amount in the NMW cash assistance program.

(2) During the initial application or recertification process, the caseworker shall screen an applicant for eligibility for the EWP. The caseworker shall explain the EWP to applicants who have applied for NMW cash assistance or NMW recipients who are applying for continued assistance. The HCA's work program contractor may screen recipients of NMW cash assistance for eligibility for participation in the EWP and make a referral to the caseworker for transition to the EWP.

(3) An individual shall not have a month of participation in the EWP applied to the 60-month term limit for receipt of benefits in the state's TANF program.

(4) A benefit group participating in the EWP is considered to meet the categorical eligibility factors for the food stamp program.

(5) A benefit group participating in the EWP shall have its eligibility for medicaid determined. Eligibility shall be based on the rules in place for each medicaid program.

B. Limitations of the education works cash assistance program:

(1) The number of participants in the EWP shall be limited to the number for which state funding is allocated.

(2) Recipients who are actively participating in the NMW cash assistance program, and who meet the requirements for the EWP, shall be given first opportunity to switch programs.

(3) A benefit group shall not participate in the NMW and EWP simultaneously.

(4) A benefit group with income from employment may receive support services funded by the federal TANF block grant. A benefit group that does not have income from employment shall not be eligible to receive support services funded by the TANF block grant.

(5) A recipient may participate in the EWP for no more than 24 months, whether or not consecutive, except:

(a) that a recipient may participate in the EWP for one additional academic term following the 24 month participation limit if doing so will result in the recipient earning a degree, or

(b) that a recipient may participate in the EWP for two additional academic terms following the 24 month participation limit at the discretion of the director if doing so will result in the recipient earning a degree.

(6) A participant must be a full-time student as defined by the educational institution.

C. Eligibility criteria:

(1) Conditions: Eligibility for participation in the EWP shall be based on all eligibility criteria for the NMW cash assistance program. As a condition of approval, an applicant or recipient must:

(a) be otherwise eligible for NMW cash assistance;

(b) be in good standing with the HCA; good standing means that sanctions are not currently applied to the benefit group due to noncompliance with work programs, child support enforcement or reporting requirements;

(c) provide proof that the applicant or recipient has been accepted or is enrolled in a two-or four-year postsecondary, graduate or post-graduate degree education program;

(d) apply for all financial aid available, including grants and scholarships.

(2) Level of effort:

(a) A participant must engage in a combination of education, training, study or work-site experience, for an average of 20 hours a week in each month of participation in the EWP.

(b) One and one-half hours of study time shall be credited for each hour of class time.

(c) Work-site experience includes, but may not be limited to, paid employment, work study, training-related practicums, an internship, a clinical placement, or laboratory or field work, or any other work activity pursuant to the NMW cash assistance program.

D. Satisfactory participation in the education works program:

(1) To maintain satisfactory participation in the EWP, a participant shall meet all the requirements and standards of the educational institution that the participant attends, including class attendance.

(2) A participant shall maintain a 2.0 grade point average in each school term.

E. Reporting requirements for recipients:

(1) A recipient must provide ISD with proof of the recipient's final grades for each school term. Final grades must be provided by the end of the month in which the school term ends.

(2) A recipient must provide ISD with a copy of all letters relating to the receipt or denial of financial aid.

(3) A recipient must report to ISD when the recipient intends to drop out of school.

(4) A recipient must report any circumstance that might affect the recipient's ability to participate in the EWP.

(5) School attendance and reporting requirements for dependent children apply to the EWP.

(6) All reporting requirements in the NMW cash assistance program apply to the EWP.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.611.10

8.102.611.10 NMAC - Rp, 8.102.610.12 NMAC, 12/15/2005; A, 7/17/2006, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024