Agenda - 12-07-2015 - 6-a - Minutes

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2 1 Lindsey Shewmaker, Human Services Manager, said an ABAWD is mentally and 2 physically able to work. She said ABAWDs have to work an average of 20 hours a week, 3 including self-employment, volunteer work, and participation in work programs. She said if 4 there are ABAWDs that do not meet these requirements they can receive 3 months' worth of 5 Food and Nutrition benefits, but then must wait 36 months, unless they are exempted. She said 6 the main reasons for being exempt are having a child in the home, receiving unemployment 7 benefits, and being physically or mentally unfit for employment. 8 Lindsey Shewmaker said a report from the State listed about 860 Orange County 9 ABAWD clients that currently lack income, each of whom will need to be reviewed locally to see 10 if any exemptions exist. She said a second report is expected from the State in December, 11 which will include the rest of the ABAWDs that do have some income, but no recorded work 12 hours. 13 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the total number of ABAWDs is 1,500 or 2,300. 14 Lindsey Shewmaker said 1,500 is the initial estimate from the State, but this number 15 may go up after the second report. She said DSS staff is currently seeking to help clients find 16 ways to keep their benefits. 17 Nancy Coston said DSS is not required to provide employment and training activities for 18 these participants, but the agency is planning to expand the voluntary program as an avenue 19 for them to meet the requirements. She said many of the activities planned for the expansion at 20 Hillsborough Commons should meet the requirements, and the agency is also looking at 21 expanding work experience at both County agencies and businesses in the community. She 22 said DSS will also work with Durham Technical Community College to identify courses that are 23 appropriate for these participants. She said, additionally, the agency would be working on 24 transportation and other support services needed to help the participants to continue receiving 25 benefits, while seeking additional employment skills. 26 Nancy Coston said this law goes into effect January 1St but clients would not lose their 27 benefits until April 1 at; thus, DSS needs to review their clients that fall in this category during this 28 time frame to try and find them ways not to lose their benefits, and secure proper 29 documentation. She said DSS needs to reach out and touch 1,500 people in 30 days and then 30 have options for those individuals that do not work 20 hours for week. She said the agency 31 cannot use for profit sites for work experience, but they can volunteer at non-profits and they 32 can work at public entities. 33 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the State has specific criteria to determine the list of 34 1,500 clients. 35 Nancy Coston said the first group the State ran are those who are able bodied but 36 showing no earned income. She said this first list has no wages and risk losing these benefits. 37 She said the next group were those who had some wages, but the number of hours being 38 worked is unknown, so they have to find out that information themselves, and there is an 39 estimate that there are 1,500 in Orange County that have this need. 40 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the number of people receiving food benefits in Orange 41 County is known, and who the State would have taken out of this number already. 42 Lindsey Shewmaker said about 6,000 people receive benefits, and the State has backed 43 out all the cases where there are children in the home, or there is a documented disability. 44 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there could be clarification regarding the for-profit 45 programs. 46 Nancy Coston said she is unclear about this aspect of the program and criteria. She 47 said she is not sure of what the final rule will be when all is said and done. 48 Commissioner Pelissier asked if individuals have been notified yet. 49 Lindsey Shewmaker said last week the State sent out notices to the people the State 50 identified as potentially at risk of losing benefits, telling them about the new work requirements.