Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-47.24 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Assistance available in family self-sufficiency grants
Family self-sufficiency grants will be authorized for removing an identified barrier to self-sufficiency when it can be reasonably anticipated that the assistance will enable PROMISE JOBS participant families to obtain or retain employment in the two full calendar months following the date of authorization of payment. For example, if a payment is authorized on August 20, it should be anticipated that the participant can find employment in September or October.
(1)
Employment does not occur. If employment does not occur in the
anticipated two-calendar-month period or if the participant loses employment in
spite of the self-sufficiency grant, no penalty is incurred and no overpayment
has occurred.
(2)
Types of
assistance. The department, in conjunction with IWD, will determine
those barriers to self-sufficiency that can be considered for family
self-sufficiency grants such as but not limited to auto maintenance or repair,
licensing fees, child care, and referral to other resources, including those
necessary to address questions of domestic violence. The IWD service delivery
areas will have the opportunity to adjust the list of approvable barriers to
self-sufficiency based on local resources and circumstances. These adjustments
will be approved by the department and the appropriate responsible
administrator prior to implementation.
(3)
Limit on assistance. The
total payment limit per FIA-responsible person is $1,000 per year. A year for a
family will be the 12 fiscal months following the date of authorization of the
initial payment for the family. A fiscal month begins and ends in different
calendar months.
(4)
Frequency of assistance. Family self-sufficiency grants are
intended to provide immediate and short-term assistance and must meet the
criteria in this rule. While a family may be a candidate more than once and may
receive payments in consecutive months in some circumstances, payments will not
be established as regular or ongoing.
(5)
Supplanting. Family
self-sufficiency grants will not be used for services already available through
the department, PROMISE JOBS, or other local resources at no cost.
(6)
Relationship to the family
investment agreement. Family self-sufficiency grants are separate from
the PROMISE JOBS family investment agreement process. While the family
investment agreement must be honored at all times and renegotiated and amended
if family circumstances require it, no family will be considered to be choosing
the limited benefit plan if the family chooses not to participate in the family
self-sufficiency grant program.
(7)
Issuing payments. Family self-sufficiency grants are PROMISE
JOBS benefits and will be authorized through the PROMISE JOBS expense allowance
system. Payments may be issued to the participants or to a vendor for support
services provided to the family. The department in conjunction with the
appropriate responsible administrator will have discretion in determining
method of payment. The IWD service delivery area will have the opportunity to
adjust these payment options in an individual case based on circumstances and
needs of the family with the approval of the department and the appropriate
responsible administrator prior to implementation.
Notes
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(1) Employment does not occur. If employment does not occur in the anticipated two-calendar-month period or if the participant loses employment in spite of the self-sufficiency grant, no penalty is incurred and no overpayment has occurred.
(2) Types of assistance. The department , in conjunction with IWD and BRS , shall determine those barriers to self-sufficiency which can be considered for family self-sufficiency grants such as, but not limited to, auto maintenance or repair, licensing fees, child care, and referral to other resources, including those necessary to address questions of domestic violence. The IWD service delivery areas and BRS shall have the opportunity to adjust the list of approvable barriers to self-sufficiency based on local resources and circumstances. These adjustments shall be approved by the department division administrator and the appropriate responsible administrator prior to implementation.
(3) Limit on assistance. The total payment limit per family is $1,000 per year. A year for a family shall be the 12 fiscal months following the date of authorization of the initial payment for the family . A fiscal month begins and ends in different calendar months.
(4) Frequency of assistance. Family self-sufficiency grants are intended to provide immediate and short-term assistance and must meet the criteria in this rule. While a family may be a candidate more than once and may receive payments in consecutive months in some circumstances, payments shall not be established as regular or ongoing.
(5) Supplanting. Family self-sufficiency grants shall not be used for services already available through the department , PROMISE JOBS, or other local resources at no cost.
(6) Relationship to the family investment agreement. Family self-sufficiency grants are separate from the PROMISE JOBS family investment agreement process. While the family investment agreement must be honored at all times and renegotiated and amended if family circumstances require it, no family shall be considered to be choosing the limited benefit plan if the family chooses not to participate in the family self-sufficiency grant program.
(7) Issuing payments. Family self-sufficiency grants are PROMISE JOBS benefits and shall be authorized through the PROMISE JOBS expense allowance system. Payments may be issued to the participants or to a vendor for support services provided to the family . The department division administrator in conjunction with the appropriate responsible administrator shall have discretion in determining method of payment. The IWD service delivery area or BRS shall have the opportunity to adjust these payment options in an individual case based on circumstances and needs of the family with the approval of the department division administrator and the appropriate responsible administrator prior to implementation.