N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.620.15 - CALCULATING THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES BENEFIT

If state or federal funds are specifically appropriated, the HCA may issue supportive services benefits.

A. Child care: The caseworker may authorize child care reimbursement for persons for a period not to exceed 30 days. All other child care shall be authorized by CYFD. The caseworker shall authorize child care in compliance with CYFD program requirements and standards. Child care payments shall not be paid for with federal TANF funds and shall not count towards the TANF term limits.

B. Transportation: NMW participants may receive a standard transportation reimbursement.

(1) Reimbursement:

(a) The NMW allows travel reimbursement for mandatory and voluntary participants traveling to offices for orientation, assessment, reassessment, or employment planning activities. In addition, travel costs are reimbursed for approved NMW activities identified and developed in the WPA.

(b) Mileage costs for paid employment are met through the cash assistance earned income deduction. Except for the one-time only advance, travel reimbursement shall not be made for any NMW activity for which the individual is paid.

(2) Reimbursement standards:

(a) NMW reimbursement for NMW participants using private automobiles shall be at a standard rate based on monthly mileage, as set forth below.

(i) The caseworker shall decide whether the claimed mileage is reasonable and, if the amount claimed is excessive, may adjust the amount downward.

Monthly Mileage	Monthly Reimbursement
1 - 499	$25
500 - 1499	$50
1500 - 2499	$100
2500 or More	$150

(ii) Mileage shall be allowed only if the activity takes place in the individual's home community. Travel may be allowed outside the individual's home community only if the NMW activity is not available in the community or if the NMW activity involves participation in an educational or vocational training program which is not available in the individual's home community.

(b) Bus tokens/passes are issued in lieu of the travel allowance and may not exceed $25 for the month. A participant shall be eligible to receive bus tokens or a one-month bus pass on an interim basis, provided that:

(i) the participant has no access to private transportation; and

(ii) public transportation is a reasonable alternative.

C. Vocational training and education: If state or federal funds are specifically appropriated, the HCA may issue supportive services benefits.

(1) Reimbursement for vocational training and educational expenses, but not tuition, shall be available to NMW participants.

(2) NMW participants requesting reimbursement for various vocational training and educational expenses must provide receipts or request letters stating the amount of educational expenses. In addition, NMW participants must provide verification that financial assistance from other sources is unavailable or insufficient to cover the expenses for which the reimbursement is being requested.

(3) To be eligible for reimbursement of vocational training and educational expenses, the NMW participant must:

(a) meet NMW participation requirements;

(b) have an approved WPA which identifies and approves supportive services for further training; a NMW participant is not eligible for reimbursement of vocational training or educational expenses incurred prior to development of the WPA;

(c) apply and be denied for any educational assistance from such other sources as scholarships, PELL grants, WIA, student loans, etc. for which the participant might be eligible;

(d) provide "letters of denial" for the financial assistance listed previously; and

(e) repeat steps (a) through (c) at the beginning of each educational period (semester, quarter, trimester etc. as applicable).

(4) Reimbursable vocational training and education costs shall include only those for which a student is normally responsible, such as book and laboratory fees, special laboratory or shop clothing, work book fees, testing, registration, or graduation fees. In addition, personal classroom supplies, not to exceed $15 per semester, may be reimbursed.

(5) Participants enrolled in a postgraduate studies shall not be not eligible for supportive service reimbursement with respect to their post-graduate studies.

(6) Education and vocational training supportive services cannot be guaranteed beyond the end of the WPA expiration date.

(7) Test fees: Fees for completing either the scholastic aptitude test (SAT) or the American college test (ACT) may be reimbursed, provided one of the tests is required for admission into a given educational training institution.

D. Employment-related expense: If state or federal funds are specifically appropriated, the HCA may issue supportive services benefits.

(1) A NMW participant may receive assistance to help pay the cost for certain personal items necessary to accept a bona fide job offer, or to retain employment. The assistance shall be limited to no more than $300, and shall be available only once during the individual's lifetime.

(2) Payment method:

(a) Payment shall be made as a reimbursement for verified costs already incurred. Reimbursement must be requested within 60 days of employment.

(b) Payment may be issued prospectively, based on a billing statement or a detailed estimate of costs.

(3) Allowable costs: Allowable costs include, but are not limited to:

(a) special clothing, licensing and drug testing fees which an employer requires an employee to pay and which are a condition of employment;

(b) vehicle repairs, but not a vehicle purchase or insurance payment;

(c) tools which the employer requires an employee to pay for; or

(d) costs of bringing a home into compliance with certification requirements of the child care food program administered by CYFD, if the full cost is not available from the child care food program or CYFD.

(4) Costs not allowed: Costs associated with the start-up of a business or self-employment venture are not allowed. Such costs must be met through an IDA.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.102.620.15

8.102.620.15 NMAC - Rp 8.102.620.15 NMAC, 7/1/2001; A, 4/1/2012, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024