Author: barinur
Last saved by: pellerp
Company: State of Florida

Transitional Services Reminder Letter

Participant’s Name:
%FNAME% %MI% %LNAME%

Date:
%DATE%

%ADDRESS1% |
%ADDRESS2% |
%CLCITY%, %CLSTATE% %ZIPCODE% |

Looking for a job?  Working hard to make ends meet?
While you’re receiving public assistance and for up to two years after you’ve left welfare for work, your family may be eligible for transitional assistance including childcare, transportation, and additional education and training.  There’s more:  Free or low-cost healthcare for your kids and food stamps for families that qualify and an earned income tax credit that literally puts money back in your pocket to reward you for working.

Childcare
Need help paying for childcare while you look for work, train for a new career or after you get a job?  Childcare assistance is available for program participants and for up to two years for families that have left welfare to work.

Transportation
Need help on the road to work?  Individuals who qualify can obtain gas coupons, bus passes, or money for minor car repairs.

Earned Income Tax Credit
How about an instant raise?  If you’re working even part time and haven’t applied for the Earned Income Tax Credit, you’re walking away from money that’s there to help you make ends meet.  If you have two or more children and earned less than $30,580, you can get back as much as $3,816 at tax time.

Healthcare
Need affordable healthcare?  Your child may be eligible for free healthcare through Florida KidCare, which offers programs at no or low cost to you.  And if you’re leaving welfare for work, transitional Medicaid may be available to you for up to one year.

Education & Training
Want to sharpen your skills or train for a better job or new career?  You may qualify for free or subsidized training or education.  Let us be your one-stop source for job placement and career advancement.

Food Assistance
Need help buying food?  You may qualify for food assistance – even if you’re working.  Qualification is based on family income.  There are no time limits for families!
Career Manager | | Fax Number
| | Telephone Number
Address | |

OPPORTUNITIES AND OBLIGATIONS

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES | YOUR OBLIGATIONS
You have the opportunity to: | You are required to:
•	Receive help paying for support services (if approved) in order to find employment, education, or other assigned activity (ies), unless you are able to make these arrangements on your own. Support services may include, but are not limited to: child care, transportation, tools, clothing, uniforms, etc. (This help is based on your assigned activity and the availability of funding.) | •	Participate in, document and complete assigned program activities.
•	Have decisions about your case reviewed by a supervisor at the Regional Workforce Board. | •	Respond to all contacts from the Regional Workforce Board or other agencies you are referred to.
•	Request a hearing if you disagree with a decision about your temporary cash assistance. | •	Inform the Regional Workforce Board of changes in participation, employment, family circumstances including change of address, telephone number, child care needs, transportation problems, health problems, etc
•	Be excused from or rescheduled for an activity if you have good cause.  Good cause is determined by the Regional Workforce Board. | •	Apply for and seek employment.
•	Request Cash Assistance Severance Benefit. | •	Accept any reasonable offer of suitable employment.
•	Request Relocation assistance. | •	Remain employed.  Must contact the Regional Workforce Board prior to reducing your hours or quitting.

•	Receive the following services, if eligible:
o	Mental Health Counseling
o	Domestic Violence Counseling/Services and/or
o	Substance Abuse Counseling/Services

•	Report good cause reasons for failure to participate immediately.

•	Receive transitional benefits, if eligible, after you are no longer receiving temporary cash assistance, based on funding availability, such as:
o	Child care
o	Transportation
o	Education and Training

•	Receive Medicaid and food assistance benefits based on eligibility requirements. |

CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO PARTICIPATE
CASH ASSISTANCE PENALTIES | FOOD STAMP PENALTIES
•	1st Penalty:  Cash assistance terminated for entire family for a minimum of 10 days or until the individual complies, whichever is later. | •	1^st Penalty:  Loss of food assistance for one month or until compliance, whichever is longer.
•	2nd Penalty:  Cash assistance terminated for entire family for one month or until the individual who failed to comply does so, whichever is later. | •	2nd Penalty:  Loss of food assistance for three months or until compliance, whichever is longer.
•	3^rd Penalty:  Cash assistance terminated for entire family for three months or until the individual who failed to comply does so, whichever is later. | •	3^rd Penalty:  Loss of food assistance for six months or until compliance, whichever is longer.
•	NOTE:  Cash assistance may be continued on a level two or three penalty for children under age 16 through a protective payee. | •	NOTE:  If the non-compliant individual is the head of household, food assistance for the entire assistance group will be terminated unless that individual meets a food assistance exemption.

DEO-WTP 0010 March 2013 (Replaces DEO-WTP 0010 October 2011)

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this document may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.