Massachusetts § 13 - Job search requirements for non-exempt adult applicants for assistance; submission of proof of initial job search and weekly reaffirmation

§ 13. Job search requirements for non-exempt adult applicants for assistance; submission of proof of initial job search and weekly reaffirmation

Section 13. (a) During the initial qualification process for full cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children, all adult applicants who are not exempt from the work requirement shall be required to conduct an initial job search unless the applicant has good cause for not participating as determined by the department which may include disability; provided further, that an applicant shall not be disqualified from receiving temporary assistance during the cash assistance eligibility determination process.

(b) The department shall inform all applicants required to conduct an initial job search of available local job placement service providers. Applicants shall provide evidence of this search by returning to the department a list of the potential employers contacted recently, the date of contact and the name and telephone number of the person with whom the applicant spoke, to the extent feasible. All initial job search documentation shall be signed by the applicant under the penalties of perjury. The number of potential employers to be contacted by the applicant shall be determined by the department. An applicant shall provide the information prior to the applicant's case approval. The submission to the department of proof of job search activities issued by a one-stop career center within the department of career services shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection. An applicant who fails to provide this information within 60 days of filing the application shall be determined to be ineligible. The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection.

(c) The department shall require adult recipients, who are meeting their work requirement through a job search under the pathways to self-sufficiency program established pursuant to section 3C, to provide, on a weekly basis, evidence of job searches by returning to the department a list of the employers contacted, the date of contact and the name and telephone number of the person with whom the applicant spoke, to the extent feasible. The requirements of this subsection shall be deemed satisfied upon submission to the department of proof of job search activities issued by a one-stop career center within the department of career services. The department shall terminate cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children for a recipient who fails to provide such accurate information; provided, however, that the department shall not terminate the cash assistance provided to the recipient's dependent children. The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this subsection.