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Richland County approves updated Prevention, Retention and Contingency plan for TANF funds
Summary
Richland County Jobs and Family Services presented and the Board of Commissioners approved the county’s biennial Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) plan, with minor wording changes and an update to the minimum earned-income calculation used for eligibility.
Richland County Jobs and Family Services on Sept. 25 presented the county’s updated Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) plan, and the Richland County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the plan and submit it to the state.
Marie Betson, director of JFS, introduced the agency representatives. Heather Mosley, social service administrator, described the planning committee’s review and the substantive items it considered. “The homeless definition is a little more broad than what we use,” Mosley said, and committee members suggested whether the county should broaden that definition; Mosley said the county elected to keep the local verification practices it has used: verification by shelter stay, eviction or three-day notice, or a move necessary to maintain HUD or other housing assistance for a child.
Mosley also said the committee recommended updating the formula the county uses to calculate a minimum earned-income amount for PRC eligibility. “We used state minimum wage times 20 hours, which would be part time employment,” she told commissioners, and the committee accepted that change. Mosley said the PRC program is not meant to be ongoing income support but rather short-term assistance for needs such as medical bills or car repairs.
Commissioners moved and approved the plan. During the item, commissioners asked about how residents apply for assistance; Mosley said applicants may come to the office, call, or submit an application online at www.rcjfs.net.
The plan will be maintained on file for the state’s review; the state does not formally approve or disapprove the plan but checks it for compliance with federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) requirements, according to JFS staff. The board’s approval was recorded as a vote in favor by the commissioners present.
