19.9 Good Cause

ISSUE DATE: 10/2023

Do not sanction participants who have good cause reasons for not complying.

Act on information about good cause available from the participant or other sources.

· When an employment counselor is aware that good cause applies, even if the participant has not claimed good cause, do not sanction the participant.

· Verify and document the good cause reason.

· Work with the participant to decide what the next step should be.

To verify good cause:

· Use professional judgment about which circumstances require verification.

· Request formal verification anytime the claim of good cause is questionable or repeated.

· Verification can include the following examples (but allow room for other):

· Medical statements.

· Proof of judicial proceedings.

· Documentation of participation in acceptable activities.

In most cases, good cause situations should not be approved for longer than 90 days.

Apply good cause only for the portion of the month during which the good cause reason occurs.

If the situation continues longer than 90 days:

· Case note why it should continue beyond that time frame.

· Consider whether the participant should be in the Family Stabilization Services track.

MFIP Good cause does NOT apply if participants have sanctions for:

· Not cooperating with child support (see Child Support good cause reasons, 19.51 (Child Support Sanctions).

Good cause reasons:

Good Cause Reason	Definition and Details
Appropriate Child Care Is Unavailable.	See 16.33 (Inability to Obtain Child Care). Reschedule mandatory meetings at a time that works for the participant.
The Job Is Not Suitable Employment.	Suitable employment: · Is within the participant’s physical and mental capacity. · Pays hourly gross wages that are not less than the state or local minimum wage, whichever applies. · Meets federal, state and county health and safety standards. · Complies with federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws.
The Participant Is Ill or Injured.	An illness or injury of any length of time that prevents the participant from participating in an activity. If the illness or injury lasts for more than 30 days, they should be considered for the Family Stabilization Services track. See 17.9 (Illness, Injury and Incapacity). Reschedule mandatory meetings at a time that works for the participant.
Ill and Injured: Presumptive Medical Disability.	This is a specific good cause reason under ill and injured. This includes the month a mother gives birth and the 2 months following that birth. · A participant does not need a medical statement from a physician that she is incapacitated after the baby’s birth. · If the pregnancy does not result in a live birth, a medical statement is necessary to document incapacity. · A participant granted good cause because of the birth of a child is still expected to work with employment services, but cannot be sanctioned during the 3-month good cause time period. · Mothers who do not want to work with employment services should take the child under 12 months exemption if available to them. See 5.18 (Participation Requirements). · Presumptive medical disability good cause does not apply to minor parents or 18- and 19-year old parents who take the education option. See 9.27 (Child Under 12 Months & Teen Parents). · A presumptive medical disability does not make someone eligible for the Family Stabilization Services track. · Sanctions on participants found to have given birth should be removed and their benefits restored for that period.
The Participant Needs to Provide Care to Someone Who Is Ill or Incapacitated.	The person needing care can include: · Another member of the household receiving MFIP assistance. · A relative in the household. · A foster child in the household. The participant must provide verification that they are needed to provide the care. Reschedule mandatory meetings at a time that works for the participant.
The participant Cannot Secure Transportation.	Reschedule mandatory meetings at a time that works for the participant.
An Emergency Situation Prevents Complying.	This includes but is not limited to: · Being homeless. See ESM 2.24 (Glossary: H-K) for the definition of homeless. · Having utilities shut off. · Receiving a utility shut-off notice. · Receiving an eviction notice. The participant’s verbal statement is acceptable, except when there is a pending eviction or pending utility shut-off and the participant must provide verification.
A Judicial Proceeding.	This includes judicial proceedings affecting the participant directly or juvenile court matters affecting a young person in the household and that conflicts with either of the following: · The schedule for activities in the employment plan. · A mandatory MFIP meeting. Reschedule mandatory meetings at a time that works for the participant.
The Participant Is Already Participating in Acceptable Work Activities.	Do not sanction working participants who have submitted pay stubs to the eligibility worker but have not submitted them to the employment counselor.
An Appropriate Education Program Is Not Available for a Parent Younger Than 20 Whose Employment Plan Requires Education.	This applies to: · A parent younger than 18 without a high school diploma. · A parent 18 or 19 years old choosing the school option.
Activities identified in the employment plan are not available.	No additional information.
Suitable Employment Is Not Available to a Participant Willing to Work.	No additional information.
The Participant Faces Other Verifiable Obstacles to Complying That Are Beyond the Participant’s Control.	No additional information.
The Participant Appears to Be Eligible for Family Stabilization Services. See Chapter 17 (Family Stabilization Services).	The documentation to make that determination, however, is not available even with the participant’s cooperation in trying to obtain it.

The information about what is good cause is available to participants:

· At the employment services overview.

· On the Employment Services Responsibilities, Rights and Consent (DHS-3172) (PDF).

· On the MFIP Notice of Intent to Sanction (DHS-3175) (PDF).

PREVIOUS REVISIONS

Date	Notes
08/2023	Updated good cause reason under “An Emergency Situation Prevents Complying”.
08/2020

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MFIP Employment Services Manual