Minnesota Minnesota

MFIP Employment Services Manual

MFIP Employment Services Manual


12.3.6 Job Search: Documenting/Tracking

ISSUE DATE: 03/2026

Job Search

Workforce One - Job Search

Activity Type in Workforce One.
  

Job Search.

Workforce One Employment Plan Section.

Job Search.


TANF Work Participation Rate - Job Search

Core or non-core activity.

Core up to:

  • · 240 hours in a year for participants with children younger than 6.
  • · 360 hours in a year for participants with no children younger than 6.

    • The year is a 12-month period that starts with the participant’s first hours in job search that are counted in the Work Participation Rate. No more than four consecutive weeks in a month are countable as core activity.

    After that time:

  • · Job search is neither core nor non-core.
  • · The hours are not counted in the Work Participation Rate.

    • Participants should continue with job search activities, even when the activity no longer counts in the Work Participation Rate if it makes sense for their circumstances.

    The State is responsible for calculating which hours of job search count in the Work Participation Rate and which do not. Use the same documentation and verification standards for any job search hours entered.

    How to track hours for this activity.

    Hours are tracked by the week.

    The hours for any activity must be actual hours.

    Count hours of travel time between job search activities.

  • · Do not count travel time to the 1st activity or travel time returning home after the last activity.


    • Do not write employment plans trying to maximize the hours of job search for the work participation rate.

  • · Job search can be in an employment plan even when the hours do not contribute to the work participation rate.
  • · Include job search in employment plans whenever it appears to be an activity that will advance a participant to employment and self-sufficiency.

    • Where are hours tracked for this activity?

    Workforce One.


    Documentation and Verification - Job Search

    Who collects the documentation?

    Employment counselor.

    What information needs to be included in the verification?

    For job search logs:

  • · Date and time of each contact.
  • · Type of contact (phone call, in person, by email, other).
  • · Position the participant was pursuing.
  • · Status of the contact.
  • · Name and contact information of the employer or business.
  • · Participant’s signature stating the activity log and the hours contained on it are accurate.
  • · Weekly check-in date.
  • · A case note should be used to document the participant’s activity log was reviewed and the hours have been verified.
  • · Every other week job contact verified.
  • · Check the box on the back of the Job Search Log to indicate job contact was verified.
  • · Indicate the job and the method used to verify the contact.
  • · If no verification was provided, a case note indicating the specific job contact that has been verified is acceptable.
  • · Employment counselor’s signature.


    • For attendance sheets:

  • · The participant’s name.
  • · The date and actual hours of participation.
  • · A signature of the person responsible for overseeing the activity.


    • To verify a job contact:

  • · Make sure to check the box on the MFIP Job Search Activity Log about a verified job contact.
  • · Indicate on the log how the contact was verified or case note that a specific job contact was verified if no other documentation can be obtained.

    • Which documents meet the requirements?

  • · MFIP Employment Services Weekly Job Search Activity Log (DHS-5784) (PDF) and the every-other-week method for verification as checked on the log, such as:
  • · Conversation between the employment counselor and the participant about a specific job contact.
  • · Copies of applications, letters and business cards.
  • · A computerized “receipt” for online applications.
  • · Contacting the employer to verify the job contact.
  • · Other.
  • · A sign-in attendance sheet for group meetings such as job club or job search at a Workforce Center.
  • · A computerized print-out documenting online job searches – if the print out specifies the amount of time the participant was doing an online job search.

    • When is the documentation due?

    As part of weekly check-ins with the participant.

    Where should documents be kept for this activity?

    Activity logs and computerized print-outs:
    In the participant’s case file.

    Group attendance sheets:

    In the participant’s case file or at a location easily accessible to program monitors.

    Follow the County’s or tribe’s human services general records retention schedule.

    Who provides daily supervision?

  • · Employment counselor.
  • · Other responsible individuals, such as another employment services provider or Workforce Center staff.


    • Daily supervision means:

  • · Developing a schedule with the participant of daily activities for the week.
  • · At least 1 in-person or phone check each week.
  • · Review progress.
  • · Identify the need for any support services.
  • · Make any necessary changes in the schedule of activities.

    • Who or what standard determines acceptable performance?

    Employment counselor should review the activity log at weekly check-ins with the participant.

  • · Review that the log is complete.
  • · Sign the activity log attesting that information and hours have been verified.


    • Specific Instructions - Job Search

    What should be done with incomplete logs?

  • · Do not track hours of activities in Workforce One that cannot be verified.
  • · Return job search logs missing the participant’s signature to the participant to get the signatures if job search was independent and the activity was off-site.
  • · Case note any actions taken.

    • PREVIOUS REVISIONS

    DateNotes
    08/2023 Updated throughout
    08/2020

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