Cash Assistance Handbook | |
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS | |
CITATION | |
Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) is a collaborative program between the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges designed to help TANF and a limited number of Food Stamp recipients connect and pursue post-secondary education at one of PA’s 14 community colleges. |
KEYS was developed in response to growing research that shows that people who earn a career-specific credit bearing certificate or an associate’s degree are better able to get jobs at family-sustaining wages with benefits and have greater opportunities for advancement. Educational studies show that individuals who earn a career-specific credit bearing certificate or associate’s degree earn more money after graduation than those who have not attended |
Credit bearing certificate or associate’s degree programs must be career specific and support the student in gaining employment after graduation in that particular field of study. Programs of general studies such as liberal arts will not be supported and cannot be approved for TANF on the AMR or for FS on the Employment Development Plan. |
KEYS student facilitators at these colleges will provide services and supports necessary to assist students in completing educational activities. The services are designed to help them remain connected to the community college with the intent of graduating with a career-specific credit bearing certificate or associate’s degree. |
All pre-60 month (1830 days) applicants and TANF recipients who have an approved AMR stating they plan to attend or are presently enrolled at one of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges are eligible to participate in the KEYS community college program. Once enrolled in community college, TANF students are required to participate in KEYS. Food Stamp applicants and recipients may be eligible for KEYS if there are available |
Special allowances for supportive services are available to students through the CAOs and through the community colleges to support students’ participation in KEYS. |
For more information about KEYS refer to the KEYS Guidelines located on Inspiritec. |
1. |
CAOs will discuss the KEYS program with applicants who express an interest in attending a community college. |
2. |
CAOs will refer all TANF applicants or recipients who plan to attend or who are presently enrolled at one of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges in a career specific credit bearing certificate, or associate’s degree program to the KEYS program. |
3. |
The CAO and the individual will complete an AMR |
4. |
If the individual is not already enrolled at the community college, the KEYS Student Facilitator will help with the enrollment process which may include filling out applications for financial aid, placement tests, orientation and course selection at the community |
5. |
The CAO will complete a referral to KEYS |
NOTE: Food Stamp only recipients who have an approved EDP may volunteer to enroll in KEYS. However, there are limited slots available for individuals who only receive Food Stamps. The CAO will refer these individuals to KEYS using the same referral process. |
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FORMS |
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Agreement of Mutual Responsibility PA 1661 |
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Employment Development Plan PA 1531 |
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CIS DATA ENTRY PROCEDURES |
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CAINDA |
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Enter ETP code 60, 61 or 40 |
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CSPREN |
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Open Project KY |
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Enter Project ID (identifies the community college). Please refer to the TPOI table in CIS or the KEYS Guidelines |
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Enter the referral date |
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Enter the appointment date |
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Update as necessary or required |
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CODING |
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CAINDA = 60, 61 or 40 |
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CSPREN = KY |
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PROJECT ID = Located in TPOI table in CIS or in the KEYS guidelines. |
Individuals, who are participating in the KEYS program and are in good standing when they reach 1830 days on TANF, may continue attending community college as their approved Employment and Training (E&T) plan in accordance with the post-secondary education policy. |
However, an individual who is receiving ETANF may not begin post-secondary education and have it count as an allowable work activity. To remain eligible for one of the ETANF tracks, the individual must continue to participate in a countable ETANF work activity. |
1. |
Complete the Compliance Review |
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Schedule the compliance review interview. Send PA1706 |
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Refer to Work Ready/ Outreach Services |
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CAO reviews case and conducts the compliance review |
2. |
Sanction Review Process |
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Pre-24 months = individual only gets sanctioned |
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Post 24 months = whole family gets sanctioned |
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Send Advance Notice PA/FS 162A |
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Send PA 1712 15 days prior to the end of the sanction |
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Send a partial redetermination letter at the same time as the PA 1712 |
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Conduct partial redetermination no earlier than 7 days |
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Individual/parent attends partial redetermination, refer to a program |
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Individual/parent doesn’t attend, send Advance Notice PA/FS 162A close budget |
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Individual/Parent doesn’t sign AMR, send Advance Notice PA/FS 162A to close budget |
Issued: February 11, 2009