Virginia Law

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Actively seeking employment" means satisfactorily participating in any assigned job-seeking activity while in the program.

"Adult portion" means the TANF amount paid on behalf of the parent or other caretaker-relative with whom the TANF child resides, including a minor parent. This amount is the difference in the standard of assistance for a family size, which includes the adult and the standard of assistance for a family size of one less person.

"Agreement" means the written individualized agreement of personal responsibility required by § 63.2-608 of the Code of Virginia.

"Allotment" means the monthly SNAP benefit given to a household.

"Applicant" means a person who has applied for TANF or TANF-UP benefits and the disposition of the application has not yet been determined.

"Assistance unit" means those persons who have been determined categorically and financially eligible to receive assistance.

"Caretaker-relative" means the natural or adoptive parent or other relative, as specified in 45 CFR 233.90(c)(1)(v), who is responsible for supervision and care of the needy child.

"Case management" means the process of assessing, coordinating, monitoring, delivering, or brokering activities and services necessary for VIEW participants to enter employment or employment-related activities as quickly as possible.

"Case management services" means services that include, but are not limited to, job development and job placement, community work experience, education, skills training, and support services.

"Case manager" means the worker designated by the local department of social services, a private-sector contractor or a private community-based organization including nonprofit entities, churches, or voluntary organizations that provide case management services.

"Child care" means those services for which a participant is eligible pursuant to child care services policy.

"Child care services/program" means a regularly operating service arrangement for children where, during the absence of a parent or guardian, a person or organization has agreed to assume responsibility for the supervision, protection, and well-being of children under the age of 13 (or children up to 18 years of age if they are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves or subject to court supervision) for less than a 24-hour period.

"Community work experience" means work for benefits in a public or private organization that serves a community/public function.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Social Services.

"Diversionary cash assistance" means a one-time lump sum payment to an individual or third-party vendor to prevent long-term receipt of TANF.

"Division of Child Support Enforcement" or "DCSE" means that division of the Virginia Department of Social Services that is responsible under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act (42 USC §§ 651-669) to locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, establish child support and health care orders, enforce payment of delinquent support, and collect and distribute support payments.

"Employer tax credit" means a tax credit available to an employer pursuant to § 58.1-439.9 of the Code of Virginia.

"Family" means a TANF assistance unit.

"Full Employment Program" or "FEP" means subsidized, training-oriented, employment that replaces the TANF benefits of a participant. This component of VIEW is designed to train the recipient for a specific job, increase his self-sufficiency, and improve his competitiveness in the labor market.

"Grant" means the monthly TANF benefit payment.

"Hardship exceptions" means prescribed reasons that, if applicable, would allow an extension of receipt of TANF benefits.

"He" means a male or female, as applicable.

"Hiring authority" means an individual with the authority to hire employees for a business.

"In loco parentis" means an adult relative or other adult who is acting in place of a parent.

"Incapacitated" means a medically verified condition which renders an individual unable to work.

"Job placement" means placing a participant in an unsubsidized or subsidized job.

"Job search" means a structured, time-limited period in which the participant is required to search for employment. The participant must complete a set number of hours searching for employment.

"Job skills training" means training in technical job skills or required knowledge in a specific occupational area in the labor market.

"Local agency" or "local department" means any one of the local social services or welfare agencies throughout the Commonwealth that administers the VIP program.

"Minor parent" means any parent under 18 years of age.

"On-the-job training" means training that is provided by an employer during routine performance of a job.

"Parent" means a mother or father, married or unmarried, natural, or adoptive following entry of an interlocutory order. The parent may be a minor parent.

"Participant" means a TANF or TANF-UP recipient who is participating in the VIEW program.

"Participating family" means an assistance unit including a parent who participates in the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW) Program.

"Part-time unsubsidized employment" means employment of at least 10 hours but less than 30 hours per week and for which no VIEW or TANF funds are used to pay the individual's salary.

"Post-secondary education" means formal instruction at an institution of higher education or vocational school leading to the attainment of a certificate, an associate degree, or a baccalaureate degree.

"Recipient" means an individual who is presently receiving a TANF assistance payment or whose eligibility exists even though the assistance payment is zero.

"Recipient family" means an assistance unit in which the caretaker-relative is a parent of the eligible child and the parent's needs may or may not be included on the grant.

"Relative" means spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or sibling of an applicant or recipient.

"Sanction" means to reduce or suspend a participant's TANF grant, where applicable, for noncompliance with these regulations or the statute.

"School" means (i) any public school from kindergarten through grade 12 operated under the authority of any locality within this Commonwealth or (ii) any private or parochial school that offers instruction at any level or grade from kindergarten through grade 12.

"Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" or "SNAP" means the program administered through the Virginia Department of Social Services through which a household receives assistance to purchase food.

"Support services" means services such as child care or transportation provided to program participants to enable the participant to work or to receive training or education that are intended to lead to employment.

"Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" or "TANF" means the program authorized in § 406 of the Social Security Act (42 USC § 606) and administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services, through which a relative can receive monthly cash assistance for the support of his eligible children.

"Temporary Assistance for Needy Families-Unemployed Parent" or "TANF-UP" means the program authorized in § 63.2-602 of the Code of Virginia and administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services, which provides aid to two-parent families with dependent children who are in financial need.

"Time limitations" means a specified period of time, under the statute, to receive TANF.

"Transitional support services" means child care, transportation, medical assistance or employment and training services provided to working participants whose TANF has been terminated either voluntarily, although still eligible for TANF, or involuntarily, due to time limitations.

"Truant" means a child who (i) fails to report to school for three consecutive school days, or for a total of five scheduled school days per month or an aggregate of seven scheduled school days per school calendar quarter, whichever occurs sooner, and no indication has been received by school personnel that the child's parent or guardian is aware of the child's absence, and a reasonable effort by school personnel to notify the parent or guardian has failed; or (ii) is not enrolled in school at any time during the month.

"Underemployed" means working at a job for less than the federal hourly minimum wage.

"Unsubsidized employment" means employment in which no government funds are used to subsidize directly the wages earned by a participant.

"Virginia Independence Program" or "VIP" means the program in the Commonwealth of Virginia that is made up of the TANF Program and the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare.

"Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare" or "VIEW" means the employment program for TANF recipients.

"Work activity" means participation in unsubsidized employment, FEP, part-time work, community work experience, on-the-job training, job search, job readiness, community service, job skills training directly related to employment, satisfactory attendance at secondary school, or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence.