Work First 104 – THE APPLICATION INTERVIEW

VIII. JOB QUIT PENALTY

A. The Job Quit Penalty must be explained to all work eligible adults at application. The caseworker will notify the applicant that if they quit or lose a job without good cause during the application-processing period or after application approval, the family will be ineligible for Work First Family Assistance for a period of three months. The ineligibility period is defined as the month of quit and the next two months. Evaluate the family members for Medicaid. Individuals may reapply for WFFA at any time but are not eligible during the job quit penalty period.

B. A job quit penalty is applied when an individual:

1. Voluntarily quits without good cause;

2. Simply leaves the job unannounced or does not return to work without good cause;

3. Had been warned by the employer and continues the objectionable behavior after the warning and is subsequently terminated;

4. If in a current job quit penalty period, the job quit penalty continues.

C. A job quit penalty is not applied when:

1. Terminating a self-employment enterprise;

2. There is good cause.

D. There is no cure for the job quit penalty. Once the penalty period begins, it continues for the full three months, even if the individual obtains employment.