§ 165.41. Eligibility for special allowances for supportive services.

 (a)  A cash assistance or Food Stamp recipient may receive certain special allowances to pay for in advance or to reimburse costs of supportive services, as specified in this chapter, to enable the individual to prepare for, seek, accept or maintain education, training or employment. Payment for supportive services will be made in advance whenever the payment is needed by the individual to begin or maintain a RESET activity.

 (b)  For an individual seeking cash assistance to qualify to receive a special allowance for supportive services, the individual shall be determined eligible for cash assistance, participate in RESET unless exempt and have an approved AMR. For an individual seeking only Food Stamps, to qualify for a special allowance for supportive services, the individual shall comply with an approved EDP. The approved AMR or EDP, whichever is applicable, must specify the activities for which the supportive services will be provided.

 (c)  A special allowance for supportive services is made only to the extent that the item or service is not available from another public source at no cost to the individual, does not interfere with parental choice as specified in § §  165.46(a)(5) and 168.11(b) (relating to types of special allowances for supportive services; and general requirements), and cannot be met by educational assistance. The activity may not be secondary education or an equivalent level of vocational or technical training, unless the individual is a pregnant female or custodial parent.

 (d)  The CAO will inform the individual, in writing and orally, of the availability of special allowances for supportive services at application, reapplication and whenever the AMR or EDP is developed or revised.

 (e)  The CAO shall assist the participant to obtain supportive services to participate in employment, education, training and job search activities, including precomponent activities such as orientation.

 (f)  Except as otherwise restricted in this chapter, special allowances for supportive services may be granted as often as required to enable the individual to participate in an approved education or training activity and once for each job.

   The provisions of this §  165.41 amended under sections 201(2), 403(b), 405, 405.1, 405.3, 408, 432 and 432.3 of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. § §  201(2), 403(b), 405, 405.1, 405.3, 408, 432 and 432.3); the Support Law (62 P. S. § §  1971—1977); Titles I and III of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-193) (PRWORA), creating the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, and amending 42 U.S.C.A. § §  601—619, 651—669(b) and 1396u-1; and the Federal TANF regulations in 45 CFR 260.10—265.10.

   The provisions of this §  165.41 adopted October 2, 1992, effective upon publication and apply retroactively to October 1, 1989, except subsections (c) and (d) are effective October 3, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 4875; amended September 13, 2002, effective September 14, 2002, 32 Pa.B. 4435. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (252547) to (252548).

   This section cited in 55 Pa. Code §  141.57 (relating to special allowances).