Receiving Extended TANF (ETANF) is contingent upon the adult’s participation in employment and training (E&T) or other services designed to move the family towards self-sufficiency and economic independence.
All contracted programs (KEYS, EARN, WORK READY, ELECT) are trained to serve ETANF participants with the same supports and services as TANF participants, with some additional services depending on the requirements of the participants hardship.
For families with member(s) that have exhausted their 60-month TANF limit, services must be intensive, intentional, and supportive.
Extended TANF (ETANF) individuals who have received more than 60 months or 1830 days of TANF benefits should be referred to the Work Ready Program in counties where it is available. In counties where there is no Work Ready, EARN is the contracted service provider for Extended TANF individuals. Extended TANF individuals also may be eligible for services from the KEYS and ELECT program for education. See 135.83 ETANF Education Policy.
NOTE: An individual enrolled in EARN when they reach ETANF, may opt to continue enrollment in EARN, even when Work Ready is available, to avoid interruption of services. Continuity of care and the participant’s established relationship with a program should be considered in determining the most appropriate program placement.
ETANF adults must comply with the RESET requirements associated with their hardship criteria as agreed to on their AMR and participate in taking steps to overcome the barriers that contribute to their hardship.
Services for ETANF Domestic Violence Hardship
Track 1: Domestic Violence (Supportive Services) (TE-38)
An individual who has qualified for ETANF with Domestic Violence hardship criteria is enrolled in Track 1 for Supportive Services. When listing this track on the AMR, it should be labeled Supportive Services. See CAH 107.601 Extended TANF
Individuals who qualify for ETANF based on domestic violence are mandatory to participate in RESET work requirements. However, individuals who are experiencing, have experienced or are at risk of further domestic violence may request and receive a good cause waiver for RESET requirements.
Individuals who have established a good cause waiver for RESET requirements may:
If the adult in the DV hardship track establishes good cause waiving the mandatory RESET requirements and elects to participate at a reduced hourly participation rate in any employment and training program as appropriate, they will remain enrolled in track 1, Supportive Services.
Example: Individuals in this track who opt to enroll in MPP services will remain under Track 1 Supportive Services Hardship (TE-38) in eCIS. They should not be enrolled in MPP Hardship Track (TE-31). The CAO will work with the individual to develop a Service Plan (See CAH 107 and CAH 108). The AMR will reflect that the individual is enrolled in Track 1, receiving MPP services, and the MPP requirements.
ETANF individuals meeting Supportive Services Hardship criteria and granted Good Cause for reduced RESET participation must have their good cause reviewed every six (6) months to determine if the good cause circumstances have changed.
If an individual does not request a waiver from RESET participation, they are considered mandatory. They should remain enrolled in Track 1, Supportive Services and follow all guidelines listed in Track 4, Mandatory RESET Participants.
NOTE: Domestic violence agency and provider referrals should be noted as “referred for local county supportive services”. The local county domestic violence agency referral including address and phone number should be documented in the case record comments. The AMR should reflect activities the individual is participating in to resolve domestic violence like safety planning, counseling, therapy, and other related programs. Individuals can participate in activities with the Local DV agency that we referred them to and receive RESET participation credit and supportive services. CAO’s and contracted programs should avoid duplicating activities provided by the DV agency.
Services for Maximizing Participation Project Hardship Criteria
Track 2: Maximizing Participation Project (MPP) (TE 31)
ETANF adults who qualify for the MPP hardship track (See 105.261) must be enrolled in Track 2 (TE 31) and cooperate with all MPP requirements if they want to receive ETANF for themselves and their family. The MPP requirements include:
The individual must comply with all MPP requirements, including their individualized MPP plan that involves a step-by-step process which may or may not have set hourly requirements.
If a post-60-month TANF client does not comply with MPP requirements, without good cause, the case is closed, and the entire family is ineligible for ETANF benefits. The ETANF adult must agree to cooperate with MPP to establish eligibility in the future.
Work Capacity Assessment (WCA)
The WCA is a series of assessments evaluating the factors that may preclude or limit the adult’s ability to comply with RESET requirements. The WCA includes a medical evaluation, job readiness assessment, literacy evaluation, and other assessments as deemed necessary. It also includes a thorough review of existing documentation received from the CAO and the adult’s treating physician(s).
These assessments will be available in all counties and will be facilitated by a DHS contracted provider in-person, through remote participation, or a combination based on the participants needs.
The goal of the WCA is to evaluate the adult’s circumstances, including:
The evaluation will be used to determine:
Reviewing the completed WCA assessments:
|
If the results of the WCA indicate the individual has: |
The CAO and Contracted Program will: |
|
A medical condition, functional limitation or good cause situation that precludes the individual from complying with RESET |
Or in the event the individual:
e.g., over the income limit for cash assistance, non-compliance with fines and costs |
|
A medical condition, functional limitation or good cause situation that limits but does not preclude the adult's ability to participate in RESET |
|
|
No medical condition, functional limitation, or good cause situation that precludes the adult from complying with RESET requirements |
|
If the adult disagrees with the findings or recommendations of the WCA, they may request a second opinion.
For additional guidance on MPP, please refer to CAH 135 Appendix H: MPP Program Overview.
Services for ETANF Deferred Referral Hardship
TRACK 3: Deferred Referral (TE-34)
The Deferred Referral track is designed for families in which the adult has a temporary good cause situation or certain exemptions from RESET that make immediate referral to MPP or a contracted Employment and Training program inappropriate.
Good Cause
The AMR must be detailed and specific to the adult’s circumstances, and
will include a plan and specific steps to resolve the good cause situation or circumstances within 90 days.
Individuals with temporary good cause situations should be reviewed at their Good Cause review date, but no later than 90 days. If circumstances have not changed at the time of review, the individual should be referred to MPP. If circumstances have changed, the CAO will determine if the family is otherwise eligible for Extended TANF under another hardship.
A CAO-Directed (A Project) must be created on the ETP Enrollment Screen with the appropriate good cause code along with a good cause review date (Not to exceed 90 days).
Examples include but are not limited to:
See Cash 135.4 for examples. (ETP Code 60, appropriate good cause code)
NOTE: Individuals who are enrolled in another hardship track and in the process of a compliance review after the initial eligibility determination shall remain in their ETANF track while awaiting the outcome of their compliance review.
Exemptions
Individuals in the Deferred Referral Hardship Track that meet an exemption have different review dates:
Newborn Exemption (ETP Status Code 52)
Caring for a Disabled Family Member (ETP Status Code 54)
When the situation is resolved or exemption ends, the adult will be reviewed to determine if they meet other ETANF hardship criteria.
Services for ETANF Mandatory Participants Hardship
TRACK 4: Mandatory RESET (TE 35)
Mandatory individuals must participate for 30 hours per week in RESET activities.
At the time of ETANF eligibility determination or redetermination:
If the adult employed 30 or more hours per week declines the opportunity for contracted program services, the CAO will enroll them in an A-project.
Mandatory with Good Cause
Mandatory individuals granted good cause who do not meet eligibility for DV, MPP or the Deferred Referral tracks must enroll with a contracted provider and complete the following:
Special good cause provision.
If the individual establishes good cause for not participating in at least 30 hours per week of combined work and work-related activities but is required to comply with RESET, the following rules apply:
The adult who fails to cooperate in addressing the good cause situation is ineligible until they comply. The family is also ineligible. See CAH 135.84.
A lack of general education, English proficiency, adult basic education, and post-secondary training/education have been identified as major barriers to recipient employability and ability to obtain jobs with family-sustaining wages. This ETANF education policy exists to improve client access to education and training to improve employability.
An ETANF adult actively participating or interested in pursuing HSE, ABE, ESL, or post-secondary education on or after reaching 1,830 TANF days may continue to or initiate participation in vocational education activities, as well as receive special allowances to support their educational activity, for up to 24 months.
ETANF individuals may also qualify for 6-month extensions if they meet all extension criteria. As with a TANF individual, if the extension criteria are not met at the time a participant exhausts their initial 24 months, or upon continued extension eligibility determination, they must meet required hours in another core activity but can be reviewed for extension eligibility after each semester.
To qualify for six-month extensions, after 24 months of participation in a vocational education activity, students must meet ALL conditions at the time of extension eligibility determination:
NOTE: Post-graduate (for example, a master’s degree) vocational education activities are not allowable activities for TANF/ETANF or SNAP E&T participants.
*For post-secondary educational programs that do not assign credits or GPAs, the educational institution will be required to confirm that the individual is meeting satisfactory progress toward completion as defined by the institution.
A mandatory ETANF recipient that does not meet all extension criteria can remain in the post-secondary educational activity but would be required to meet the 30 hours in another core activity, other than vocational education, in order to be eligible to receive special allowances to support the educational activity.
An AMR for an ETANF individual must include:
The same good cause policy and codes for HSE, ESL, ABE, and vocational education past the 12-month lifetime limit shall be utilized for ETANF participants.
135.84 Non-Compliance with ETANF RESET Requirements
Track 1: Supportive Services (TE-38)
ETANF individuals meeting Supportive Services Hardship Criteria who have obtained a good cause waiver of the RESET requirements are not subject to sanction However, when a participant is non-compliant with their AMR they are subject to ineligibility.
Individuals meeting Supportive Services Hardship Criteria who do not request a good cause waiver for RESET, are mandatory for RESET and should remain enrolled in Track 1, Supportive Services while following all guidelines listed in Track 4, Mandatory RESET Participants. If the ETANF individual fails to cooperate with and participate in work or work-related activities, the CAO will explore whether the individual has good cause based on domestic violence or other factors. If good cause cannot be established, the family is subject to a RESET sanction.
Track 2: Maximizing Participation Project (MPP) (TE 31)
Individuals eligible in this hardship track are not subject to RESET sanction. An individual who is terminated from MPP due to non-cooperation is ineligible for ETANF. Their family is also ineligible for ETANF. When this occurs, the ETANF case is closed due to failure to cooperate with MPP requirements. The ETANF adult must agree to cooperate with MPP to establish eligibility in the future.
The family may reapply for ETANF at any time. The family is determined eligible if the adult is now willing to cooperate with MPP and the WCA process which includes the following:
NOTE: The DHS contracted provider may refer to the MPP Service Plan as the Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) as this is the corresponding field in CWDS
TRACK 3: Deferred Referral (TE-34)
Individuals in Track 3 that are exempt are not subject to RESET Sanction. When the CAO becomes aware of a change of circumstance, or the exemption ends, the adult will be reviewed to determine if they meet other ETANF hardship criteria.
Individuals in Track 3 that have been granted good cause from RESET requirements are not enrolled with an E&T contracted provider and are not subject to RESET Sanctions. However, non-compliance with the AMR may result in cash benefits closing for the entire household.
Good Cause
Individuals in the Deferred Referral track do not have hourly requirements. However, they must comply with their personalized AMR and make reasonable attempts to address the barriers that are within their control to be eligible for ETANF.
Prior to the Good Cause review date, or 90 days, if the CAO becomes aware that the individual the individual did not take the appropriate steps or make reasonable attempts to address their good cause situation, a compliance review should take place.
The review will consist of the CAO:
If this review indicates that circumstances have changed, the CAO will determine if the family is otherwise eligible for Extended TANF under another hardship.
If it is determined that the individual is willfully non-compliant with their AMR, their cash benefits must be closed. The CAO must thoroughly narrate the outcome of the review and mail the individual the appropriate notice if the review results in case closure.
The family has the right to appeal the closure, request a fair hearing, and or may reapply at any time.
TRACK 4: Mandatory RESET Participants (TE 35)
The ETANF individual who without good cause, fails to cooperate with and participate in work or work-related activities, cooperate with assessments, and/or maintain current employment is subject to a RESET sanction.
The RESET sanction imposed is cumulative and durational based on RESET sanction(s) previously imposed. Prior to imposing a new sanction, the IMCW will conduct a compliance review. The review will establish if the adult willfully and without good cause failed to comply with RESET.
The family has the right to appeal the sanction and to request a fair hearing and may reapply at any time.
The CAO must follow the policy outlined in CAH 135.7 Non-Compliance with RESET Requirements.
The ETANF recipient who does not comply with the AMR activities related to working with the DHS contractor to resolve their good cause situation will be ineligible until they comply and will have their ETANF case closed for themselves and their family. The family has the right to appeal the closure and to request a fair hearing and may reapply at any time.
Updated September 9, 2025, replacing September 21, 2021