| Work First is the cornerstone to reforming North Carolina's welfare
system into a system that focuses on employment and self-sufficiency. Work First cannot be
accomplished by government alone. Moving families off welfare and toward self-sufficiency
requires the efforts of the entire community. It requires all families to sign a
binding contract that details their plan for getting off welfare and commits them to
taking care of their family. Work First sets strict time limits on benefits and applies
tough sanctions on those families who refuse to meet their responsibilities.
KEY POINTS
- Every
job has meaning and purpose. The focus of the program is Employment and Short
Term Financial Assistance.
- Sets a federal lifetime limit of 60 cumulative months during which welfare benefits may be received.
- North
Carolina limits receipt of benefits to 24 cumulative months, then terminates
benefits for 36 months before the family can receive again.
- Sanctions are imposed for non-compliance with the Personal
Responsibility Contracts and/or non-compliance with Child Support.
To see the full version of Catawba County's Work First Plan for
2009-2011, click here.
Families must be given the
opportunity to become independent. Under Work First, benefits are intended to be short
term. Families are expected to work actively toward and share in the responsibility of
becoming self-sufficient.
Work First consists of two
components -- Cash and Employment Services
To receive cash benefits, a family must meet established
criteria, there must be an eligible deprived child (under 18) in the home with the person
who qualifies as a caretaker, and income and resource limits must be met. A family
receiving Work First Family Assistance (Cash Benefits) is allowed $3,000 in resources. All
resources available, or that can be made available, to the family are counted. A family
must meet an income test to receive Work First Family Assistance. To encourage work and
make work pay, family members who work are allowed special work-related deductions.
Employment Services are specially designed to help families get
and maintain a job. Employment Services should assist each family to accomplish the
following:
- Increase personal responsibility
- Remove barriers to employment
- Secure employment (See also NC Employment Security Commission)
- Reduce long-term dependence on
welfare programs
For additional information on all Work
First Programs in North Carolina (See University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work)
| Work First and Economic Crisis Services |
| Utility Assistance |
Financial assistance with utility bill - disconnect notice. (One time service per 12 month period.) |
Assessment of crisis situation & ability to maintain: In danger of Utility Cut Off |
General Assistance (GA) |
1 form of identification - preferable picture, cut off notice, and/or utility bill |
| Rent Assistance |
Financial assistance with past due rent. (One time service per 12 month period.) |
Assessment of crisis situation & ability to maintain: Rent Past Due, At Risk Of Eviction |
General Assitance (GA) |
1 form of identification - preferable picture, eviction notice, rental application and W-9 to be completed and returned to worker by landlord |
| Prescription Assistance |
Financial assistance with prescription. (One time service per 12 month period.) |
In Need Of Medication, Unable to Fill Medication Due to Immediate Circumstances |
General Assistance (GA) |
Prescription or Old bottle for Refill Purposes |
| Housing Assistance |
Local Housing Resource List |
Individual Is Homeless or In Need of Housing |
Salvation Army or Family Care Center |
N/A
Community Resource Sheet |
Contact Karen
Heffner, Work First Program Manager at 828-695-5625.
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