Common use of Strategies for Reducing Clause in Contracts

Strategies for Reducing. the need for TA Section 4 Support Services Section 4.1 TA and Non-TA SNAP Applicants and Recipients in Work Activities Approved by the District a. The social services district will provide childcare in accordance with the childcare section of the district’s Child and Family County Services Plan. The district will also provide for participants the following expenses which the district deems necessary for the individual to participate in orientation, assessment, employment planning, approved work activities and activities to restore self-sufficiency: Excluding tuition, the district will provide supportive services payments for any expenses required for participation in approved training, other assigned activity, or employment, for applicants or recipients, including but not limited to: clothing: uniforms, work clothing, specialty items, equipment: specialty tools or equipment licensing: licensing or testing fees All requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis as to the relevance to obtaining or retaining employment. Evaluation criteria include: alternative sources of funding or service; whether other resources are exhausted; estimates from one or more providers of service or material; whether the requested item/service is required or optional; and whether the amount of the request is commensurate with the need. Written documentation from the work site or employer of the need for the required items must be submitted. Payment will be based on the lowest cost estimate. Payment may be issued directly to the jobseeker, who must submit proof that the funds were used to purchase the items authorized. If the district determines that the supportive service payment was not used for the intended purpose, a referral to investigate will be made. Alternatively, payment may be pre-arranged with and go directly to a vendor. b. The district will use the following approach to assist those participants who need transportation to and from an approved work activity site, including any applicable mileage reimbursement rate, and the method used by the district to arrive at that reimbursement rate. OTDA policy establishes a mileage reimbursement rate of no less than the IRS established rate for medical/moving purposes. In all instances, should the actual cost of transportation needed to participate in an assigned work activity exceed the reimbursement rate determined by the district, the district will reimburse for the actual costs based on reasonable documentation submitted by the work activity participant. Please check all that apply: Bus pass/token Gas card/voucher Mileage reimbursement at IRS Business rate, (effective 1/1/19 is 58 cents/mi) Mileage reimbursement at IRS Medical/Moving rate, (effective 1/1/19 is 20 cents/mi) Other mileage rate, (please explain methodology used to establish reimbursement rate): The district will provide transportation assistance as necessary for applicants or in order to participate in assigned work activities. 1. During application stage, and until the first structured program assignment, transportation is provided as necessary to apply for specific job openings or attend interviews. 2. Once a jobseeker is enrolled in structured activity, s/he will be given a bus pass so long as s/he does not live within one mile or 10 blocks of the assigned activity. 3. In the event a jobseeker is unable to use available bus service, the agency will provide reimbursement for carpooling or driving of a vehicle which has been reported as a resource to the district (along with proof of ownership, registration, insurance, and driver’s license) at the established IRS Medical/Moving rate. Approval for this arrangement is made on a case-by-case basis. This rate represents the cost of gas, but does not include the cost of any repairs or insurance, which may be reimbursed separately, on an as-needed basis. Should the actual cost of gasoline needed to participate in an assigned work activity exceed the reimbursement rate, the agency will reimburse for the actual cost based on reasonable documentation submitted by the work activity participant. 4. Transportation assistance will be provided for applicants and recipients who begin paid employment until the temporary assistance case is denied or closes (see transitional services, below for post-case-closing procedures). Employed applicants and recipients may also be considered for assistance with the cost of car repairs, insurance, and driver’s license fees (but not fines), subject to the other provisions of this section. Should the participant be employed part-time and engaged in other assigned activity, bus passes or mileage reimbursement will be authorized as needed for both the employment and the activity. Employed recipients who own their own vehicles can seek reimbursement on an ongoing basis if the vehicle is needed in the course of his/her work and mileage is not reimbursed by the employer. 5. If a documented medical need is present, such that a jobseeker cannot walk 10 blocks or one mile, a pass for bus transportation will be issued. 6. Jobseekers who are employed at participating employers who are outside of available bus service and who do not have access to other forms of transportation, may be considered for authorization of rides through LYFT. 7. Transportation assistance to Safety Net families will be provided. If the individual is employed, transportation will be provided using TANF funds. If the individual is not employed, other non-TANF funds, such as Safety Net and/or SNAP E&T participant reimbursement, will be used. c. OTDA policy establishes a distance not to exceed 2 miles as the maximum distance that the district can require a participant to walk to a work activity assignment or to access public transportation. The district’s policy states that an individual may be required to walk up to the distance described below each way to a work activity or to access public transportation: One mile d. The district will provide the following services to assist individuals at risk of needing TA to improve their opportunities for employment or to maintain their employment: Services to assist individuals at risk of needing public assistance to improve their opportunities for employment or to maintain their employment are available on an as- needed, case-by-case basis. Such services may include: referral to child care subsidies; work-related expenses such as tools, uniforms, and licensing fees; transportation expenses such as car repairs, bus passes, and gas money (as needed until next paycheck is expected); and emergency day care (if provider is contracted and child care subsidy application has been filed). If an applicant for such services owes the district money under a previous recoupment, these services may be denied.