(Revised 3/03 ML #2830)
A minor dependent, child 16 and older or a teen parent, are subject to sanction under the JOBS Program due to non-compliance if it is determined that a minor dependent child fails, without good cause, to attend high school or its equivalent, or participate in a JOBS-approved alternative education or training program. Once a JOBS sanction is imposed, it is effective for the sanction penalty month and the entire household for the month of ineligibility. If the sanctioned individual cures the sanction during the sanction penalty month, the entire case will not close at the end of the sanction penalty month, but the needs of the sanctioned individual will not be met during the sanction penalty month.
Good cause reasons for not attending school, applicable only to minor dependent children, are:
Temporary illness;
Disability, as verified by medical evidence; or
Incapacity, as verified by medical evidence.
If under the age of 16 and the child is not attending school, it becomes an issue for Child Protection Services, and sanctions are not applied.
Teen Parent
A teen parent is defined as an individual who has a marital status of never married, is under age 18, and is a mother or father to a child. An individual under age 18 and in the third trimester of pregnancy is not considered a teen parent. An individual is considered age 18 on the first day of the month of his or her 18th birthday.
A teen parent is exempt from the requirement to attend school through the month in which their child reaches four months of age. For example, if a child is born on July 15, the teen parent is exempt for the benefit months of July through November. In a household consisting of two teen parents, only one teen parent can claim the exemption due to the age of their child. The exemption applies to the non-disabled or non-incapacitated teen parent.
A teen parent is exempt from the requirement to attend school if their education level equals 12 years but not from JOBS Program.
Good cause reasons for failure to attend school, applicable only to teen parents, are:
Incapacity of child;
Temporary Illness;
Unable to find adequate and appropriate child care.
Disability, as verified by medical evidence; or
Incapacity, as verified by medical evidence.