(1)
What are refugee employment and
training services?
Refugee employment and training services provided to eligible
refugees may include information and referral, employment oriented case
management, job development, job placement, job retention, wage progression,
skills training, on-the-job training, counseling and orientation, English as a
second language, and vocational English training.
(2)
Am I required to participate in
refugee employment and training services?
If you are receiving refugee cash assistance (RCA) you are
required to participate in refugee employment and training services, unless you
are exempt.
(3)
How
do I know if I am exempt from mandatory employment and training
requirements?
You may be exempt from participation in employment and
training requirements if you are:
(a)
An adult with a severe and chronic disability as defined below:
(i) You have been assessed by a DSHS SSI
facilitator as likely to be approved for SSI and are required to apply for SSI.
Your SSI application status may be verified through the SSI facilitator or
state data exchange; or
(ii) Your
disability is a severe and chronic mental, physical, emotional, or cognitive
impairment that prevents you from working and is expected to last at least 12
months. Your disability must be verified by documentation from a behavioral
health organization (BHO), regional service area (RSA), or evidence from
another medical or mental health professional; or
(b) Required to be in the home to care for
another adult with disabilities when:
(i) The
adult with disabilities cannot be left alone for significant periods of
time;
(ii) No adult other than
yourself is available and able to provide the care;
(iii) The adult with the disability is
related to you;
(iv) You are unable
to participate in work activities because you are required to be in the home to
provide care; and
(v) The
disability and your need to care for your disabled adult relative is verified
by documentation from the developmental disabilities administration (DDA),
division of vocational rehabilitation (DVR), home and community services (HCS),
division of behavioral health and recovery (DBHR), a behavioral health
organization (BHO), regional service area (RSA), or evidence from another
medical or mental health professional.
(c) 60 years of age or older.
(d) Unable to participate in work activities
because you are the victim of family violence.
(4)
If I am required to participate,
what do I have to do? You are required to:
(a) Register with your employment service
provider;
(b) Accept and
participate in all employment opportunities, training, or referrals, determined
appropriate by the department.
(5)
What happens if I do not follow
these requirements?
If you refuse without good reason to cooperate with the
requirements, you are subject to the following penalties:
(a) If you are applying for refugee cash
assistance, you will be ineligible for 30 days from the date of your refusal to
accept work or training opportunity; or
(b) If you are already receiving refugee cash
assistance, your cash benefits will be subject to financial
penalties.
(c) The department will
notify your voluntary agency (VOLAG) if financial penalties take
place.
(6)
What
are the penalties to my grant?
The penalties to your grant are:
(a) If the assistance unit includes other
individuals as well as yourself, the cash grant is reduced by the sanctioned
refugee's amount for three months after the first occurrence. For the second
occurrence, the financial penalty continues for the remainder of the sanctioned
refugee's 12-month eligibility period.
(b) If you are the only person in the
assistance unit your cash grant is terminated for three months after the first
occurrence. For the second occurrence, your grant is terminated for the
remainder of your 12-month eligibility period.
(7)
How can I avoid the
penalties?
You can avoid the penalties, if you accept employment or
training before the last day of the month in which your cash grant is
closed.
(8)
What is
considered a good reason for not being able to follow the requirements?
You have a good reason for not following the requirements if
it was not possible for you to stay on the job or to follow through on a
required activity due to an event outside of your control. See WAC
388-310-1600(3)
for examples.
Notes
Wash. Admin. Code §
388-466-0150
Amended by
WSR
16-05-034, Filed 2/9/2016, effective
3/15/2016
Amended by
WSR
23-02-032, Filed 12/28/2022, effective
1/28/2023
Statutory Authority:
RCW
74.08.090. WSR 00-22-085, §
388-466-0150, filed 10/31/00, effective
12/1/00.