724 State Adult Student Financial Aid (SASFA)
|
POWER only – W.S. 42-2-103 and 42-2-109 |
A. Find the assistance unit with a student in an approved educational program eligible for a POWER-SASFA payment if the student meets all other eligibility factors and is an adult who:
1. Has completed an assessment to determine if the educational program will enhance the individual’s employability:
a. Determine if the educational or training program is essential for the job seeker to obtain, maintain or increase employment;
b. Assure the job seeker understands the job requirements and has completed research to determine if jobs are available in the training area as indicated on the labor market assessment, DFS 565;
c. Assure the job seeker agrees to relocate;
d. Document the rationale for approving the educational or training program in the case record.
2. Has a completed, approved and signed IRP.
3. Is in a single-parent assistance unit at the time of initial approval for POWER-SASFA.
4. Is employed at least 32 hours per week from the end of the spring semester to the beginning of the fall semester for at least ten weeks during the summer break:
a. Waive this work requirement for those students who attend summer session a minimum of six credit hours;
b. Allow the student to remain eligible for POWER-SASFA if the performance payment is closed because of earned income; and
c. DO NOT subject the student to the voluntary quit provision if s/he quits the summer employment to attend fall semester with an enrollment of at least 12 credit hours or activities that equal 12 credit hours as defined by the institution.
5. Is in an approved educational program, which leads to a specific job.
6. Has been continuously enrolled at least 12 credit hours or activities that equal 12 credit hours as defined by the institution each fall and spring semester in an approved educational program and has completed 24 credit hours or activities that equal 24 credit hours as defined by the institution each school year:
a. Require verification of the following in the fall and spring semesters prior to approving POWER-SASFA status for the next semester:
(1) Enrollment of at least 12 credit hours or activities that equal 12 credit hours as defined by the institution was maintained throughout the semester just completed; and
(2) Enrollment of at least 12 credit hours or activities that equal 12 credit hours as defined by the institution for the next semester; and
(3) Enrollment of at least 24 credit hours or activities that equal 24 credit hours as defined by the institution for the school year; and
(4) At least a “C” or 2.00 cumulative grade point average was maintained.
b. Verify in the fall and spring semesters at least a “C” or 2.00 cumulative grade point average was maintained.
7. Is in her/his first degree or vocational training program unless the associate degree was acquired while in an approved baccalaureate program;
8. Obtain a new assessment and IRP and update documents, forms and the narrative when the student changes her/his degree or vocational program area:
a. Require the change to be in an area, which is directed at a specific job;
b. Require a job market assessment and an agreement to relocate for employment;
c. DO NOT allow the education hardship for the five-year benefit limit if the need for extra time is related to the change in degree
B. Inform the student of the requirements to remain a POWER-SASFA student, the penalties and the verifications needed and time frames for verifications.
C. Generate the A 151, POWER-SASFA Approval Notice.
D. Notify the DFS-SO POWER unit by e-mail, on a monthly basis, the name and EPICS number of the new students enrolled in the POWER-SASFA Program and how long each new student has been a Wyoming resident at the time of enrollment.
E. Refer to Section 1702 for information concerning months not to be counted toward the five-year benefit limit while the criteria are met or the student graduates or completes her/his vocational training program.
F. Find the assistance unit ineligible for any further POWER-SASFA performance payments if the student, or any other mandatory assistance unit members, fails to meet any of the POWER work program performance requirements unless the circumstances are beyond the control of the student or good cause has been granted to the mandatory assistance unit member(s).
1. Refer other mandatory assistance unit members to the POWER work program and require the POWER work program performance requirements be met;
2. DO NOT allow an assistance unit to remain eligible for the POWER-SASFA program if there is a break in POWER eligibility for any reason except earned and/or child support income:
a. Generate the A710 noncompliance notice of adverse action for the performance period in which noncompliance occurred;
b. Authorize the $1 nonpayment status for the corresponding performance payment; and
c. Generate the A451, Loss of SASFA Status, and the A751, Loss of SASFA Exclusion, as appropriate; and
d. Refer the mandatory individual(s) to the work program action center and require compliance.
3. DO NOT approve a student for the short-term vocational training work activity under the POWER work program:
a. If the student fails to meet the requirements to maintain student status under POWER-SASFA; and
b. Until s/he has demonstrated an ability to obtain and maintain employment.
4. DO NOT allow eligibility for the POWER-SASFA program at reapplication as this is a one-time only opportunity and the student who fails to meet the requirements to maintain student status loses eligibility.
G. Refer the POWER-SASFA student to the POWER work program action center two weeks prior to the graduation date.
1. Realize the student must have a signed IRP and be meeting the POWER work program performance requirements within two days after the graduation date;
2. Remove the program subtype PS from SEPA;
3. Realize noncompliance of the graduating student will be reported immediately to the Benefit Specialist:
a. Authorize the $1 nonpayment status for the corresponding noncompliance performance period(s) and generate the A-710 noncompliance notice of adverse action stating what months will be affected;
b. Continue to authorize the nonpayment status for noncompliance periods or terminate the POWER performance payment when there is a loss of contact for a full performance period (15th of one month to the 14th of the following month).
H. Inform the POWER-SASFA recipient s/he is not eligible for work activity expenditures.
I. Inform the POWER recipient who elects an exemption, i.e., child under three months, s/he is no longer eligible for POWER-SASFA and eligibility cannot be regained.
****************************************************************************
NOTES: