Narrative: b.

Each adult in the TANF assistance unit, and each child age 16 years or older in the assistance unit who is not enrolled full–time in school must participate in a work activity approved by the local department that is likely to result in unsubsidized employment. 

Local departments follow the 12 approved core and non– core work activities set forth by the law (the participation requirement is based on universal engagement 30 days after the TCA case is approved and is compliant with the 24 month work rule found in §402(a)(1) A (ii) of the TANF law). Maryland also statutorily provides “good cause” for any single parents caring for a child younger than 6 years old who is unable to obtain child care for one or more of the following reasons: 

1. Unavailability of appropriate child care within a reasonable distance from the parent's home or work site.
   1. Appropriate child care is defined as a formal licensed center or home or informal provider identified by the parent to care for the child(ren). 
   2. Reasonable distance is defined at the local level dependent upon availability of childcare)
2. Unsuitability of informal child care by a relative or others.
   1. Unsuitability of informal care is defined as inappropriate or unfit child care); or 
      1. A couple examples of inappropriate or unfit child care are:
         1. A child under the age of 13 providing child care for a baby or infant by themselves,
         2. Someone with a known substance use disorder who is actively using providing care for children,
3. Unavailability or unsuitability of an appropriate and affordable formal child care arrangement. 
   1. Affordable child care arrangements are defined as customers receiving child care scholarship with or without a co-pay). 

Maryland also requires that before sanctioning any individual for non-compliance with a work program, the case manager must investigate good cause prior to sending a notice of adverse action.   

Federal and State exemptions from the work activity requirements are: 

●       A single custodial parent who is required to care for a child under age one who is a member of the assistance unit (this exemption applies for a cumulative total of 12 months for a parent’s lifetime) and children under age 16.

●       A teen parent (either head of household or included as a child on an adult’s TANF case) who has not finished secondary school may not be exempt to care for a child younger than one year old.

●       A non-parent caretaker relative in the assistance unit who accepts responsibility to provide care and guidance to a minor child of a relative has demonstrated need and has no dependent children of his or her own in the assistance unit; and/or,

●       An Immigrant parent or caretaker relative who is not eligible for federal TANF assistance. 

State exemptions from the work activity requirements are:

• A single custodial parent who is required to care for a child under age one who is a member of the assistance unit. There is no limit to the number of times a single custodial parent can use this exemption as long as they have a child under the age of one. 
• Note: This exemption is used once the Federal exemption has been exhausted.
• A new customer receiving TCA for the first time is exempt from work requirements from month 1 to and through month 6.

Failure of any non–exempt adult to cooperate in a work requirement without good cause, including failure to accept offered employment, shall result in reduction of benefits  until the household cooperates.