Help To Get Ahead: Education & Training Opportunities for Parents in Work First
New Rules Let You Count Hours in Education and Training Programs Toward Your Work Requirements
WHAT IF THEY SAY I CANNOT ATTEND SCHOOL?
Sometimes the agencies make mistakes. If you have difficulty getting your education or training approved, get legal advice.
Some of the policies used by Work First and DHS limit your educational opportunities. Get legal advice if you encounter problems, as these policies may not be legal.
“EITHER/OR” LIMITS:
Under agency policy you cannot be approved for a Condensed Vocational Program (CVP) if you were ever enrolled in Vocational or Occupational Training under the Work First or Non-Cash Recipient (NCR) programs.
You also cannot be approved for Vocational or Occupational Training if you have ever been in a Condensed Vocational Program under the Work First or Non-Cash Recipient (NCR) programs.
“Either/or limits” do not apply to GED or adult education classes.
“Either/or limits” do not apply to internships, clinicals, and practicums.
If you are told you cannot attend training or education because you have used training or education in the past, seek legal advice.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING A PROGRAM:
Use care in deciding which programs to attend. Get reliable advice about what effect your choice will have on your ability to pursue other education and training options in the future. Under current policy, if you choose to use one of these educational options to meet your Work First requirements, you may not be able to attend a different program later.
Don’t quit a job or reduce your work hours without written approval. Ask to have your education or training program approved in writing before you reduce your work hours. Find out how many hours (if any) you must continue to work. If you are fired because you reduce your hours to attend an approved program, you will have to look for another job. However, Work First penalties will not apply and you can continue in education. If you are having problems getting your education or training approved, or you are being told you must work more hours than are required, get reliable advice.
Work-study jobs count as work toward your Work First requirement and the money you earn at a work-study job does not count towards your Food Stamps, Medicaid, or FIP. Ask the financial aid office at your school about Work-Study.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
The rules help parents go to school or training while they are receiving Family Independence Program (FIP) cash assistance. Getting education or training can help you find jobs that pay more, have better benefits, and have better hours.
Under the rules, some time spent in approved school or training will count as “work-related activities” for meeting “Work First” requirements. In addition, child care help and other assistance may be available to help pay for expenses of going to school.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS?
If you receive Family Independence Program (FIP) benefits and you are required to participate in the Work First program, you may be able to count time spent in an education or training program toward your “work requirement.” This pamphlet explains the types of programs that are allowed and how much time in that program you may count toward your work requirement.
NOTE: Your Work First case manager must approve the education or training program in which you want to enroll in order to have it count toward your work requirement. Ask for a copy of the approval in writing.
HOW DO I GET THIS HELP?
Ask your Work First case manager, if you have one. If you do not have a Work First case manager, talk to your DHS caseworker. You will be referred to Work First and may have to attend an orientation.
WHAT PROGRAMS CAN I USE TO COUNT TOWARD MY WORK REQUIREMENT?
If you are in approved education or training (as described below) you will only need 30 hours a week (or less) of combined education and work to meet the work requirement. The “40 hour requirement” will not apply to you. If you are a single parent with a child under age 6 and you are told
that your required hours are more than 20 per week, get legal advice.
For more information on the "40 hour a week requirement," view this article on the site: Will I have to work 40 hours a Week to Receive Cash Assistance?
Adult High School or GED Completion
Most adult education classes that lead to a high school diploma or GED will be approved if you do not have either. You may count up to 10 hours per week of classroom seat time toward your work requirement if you are making satisfactory progress. You must work at a job for the remainder of your required hours.*
You will be allowed to count your time in a GED program for up to 6 months. There is no time limit on adult high school completion.
If you are a teen parent (under age 20) and you attend high school full time, you are meeting your work requirement. Your full-time high school counts as your entire work requirement.
Condensed Vocational Training (CVT)
To be approved, a program must require at least 30 hours per week of “classroom seat time” and take no more than 6 months to complete.
You may attend up to two Condensed Vocational Programs as part of Work First, up to a total of 6 months.
Vocational or Occupational Training (Including College) also called “10/10/10”
In order to be approved, a college or training program must take 12 or fewer months to complete or be the last year of a two- or four-year program that is designed to lead to an immediate job. College and vocational programs may be approved.
To use this option to meet your work requirements, you must first be working 10 hours a week.
If you are working at least 10 hours per week and are making sufficient progress in an approved program, you may count up to 10 hours per week of “classroom seat time” toward your Work First requirements. For each hour of seat time, you can count one hour of study time toward your work requirement. The combined hours must equal the total hours of work required of you by Work First.*
Internships, Clinicals, & Practicums
These programs or placements will be approved if they are full time and are required by your school or training institution for you to complete your degree or get a professional certification.
Remember: You are entitled to help with child-care and transportation to go to approved school or training!
To locate free or low cost legal assistance:
Visit the Michiganlegalaid.org home page and search for local assistance by entering your zip code in the box marked “Find a lawyer, organization or related service to help you with your problem.” or
Look under "attorneys" in the yellow pages to find your local legal aid office, or
Contact the Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 968- 0738.
Persons age 60 or older, regardless of their income, may be able to receive free advice from the Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors by calling (800) 347-5297.
This article appears courtesy of the Michigan Center for Civil Justice.
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