The CAO must do the following:
Explain to all applicants or recipients how policy determines their eligibility.
Give the applicant or recipient the choice to get or stop benefits.
Explain an overpayment, the possibility of an overpayment for their budget group, (see Cash Assistance Handbook 110.1) and the effect of an overpayment on their budget group.
When the strike ends within a month, the CAO must issue a corrective payment to the following:
An applicant who chose not to get benefits and reapplies after the strike is over
Note: The CAO must use the original application date to begin benefits.
A recipient budget group that chose to stop benefits because of the strike and is no longer striking on the last day of the calendar month of discontinuance
Note: The CAO must not prorate the monthly assistance payment but must grant it for the entire month.
Example: Mr. and Mrs. Ralph got TANF benefits for themselves and their two children. Mr. Ralph goes on strike August 8. Since the strike will probably last several months, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph ask that their budget stop, rather than risk an overpayment. The Advance Notice is waived. The budget ends, effective August 21. The strike ends on August 23. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph reapply for benefits on August 27. The budget is reopened, effective August 21.
On the last day of the month, the CAO must determine whether any recipient is on strike.
If the striker is a parent or sole TANF child, the overpayment must be for the entire monthly assistance payment.
If the striker is any other budget group member, the overpayment must be for the striker's share of the monthly assistance payment. This is the difference between the payments with and without the striker included in the budget group.
If the strike begins and ends before the last day of the same calendar month, the CAO does not make an overpayment referral, no matter who is on strike.
Reviewed July 30, 2013