Non-Compliance and Sanctions
Vocational Services Non-Compliance
Client compliance and participation with Vocational Services is recorded in the VSAS computer application. The non-compliance process is initiated by a designated Vocational Services staff at the first working day of the month. With this process, VSAS produces a “Notice of Proposed Action” (GA 239) which is reviewed by the Appeal Unit and mailed to the client with an scheduled Fair Hearing appointment. [Refer to "Noncompliance" sections in the Vocational Services HB].
Failure to Comply Resulting in Graduated Sanction Periods
As specified in GA policy GA 229, a participant who fails or refuses, without good cause to comply with any of the Vocational Services Program requirements shall be sanctioned and ineligible for General Assistance benefits for a period of one, two or four calendar months.
The length of the sanction period is determined by the incidence of non-compliance. The first sanctionable incident shall result in ineligibility for one (1) calendar month, the second for two (2) calendar months, and the third and any additional for four (4) calendar months.
Sanctions for Married Couples
Sanctions for married couples are applied as follows:
| IF: | AND: | THEN: |
| Both spouses are employable, | Either one fails to comply, | Both are discontinued and sanctioned. |
| One spouse is employable and the other is unemployable, | Employable spouse fails to comply, | Only the employable spouse is discontinued and sanctioned. |
If a couple separates after discontinuance due to noncooperation, aid shall not be granted if there are reasons to believe that the separation was to qualify for aid, a greater amount of aid or avoid the application of a period of ineligibility. The case record should indicate when the couple separated and why the separated spouse cannot reasonably be expected to return. If the worker is satisfied that the separation was not due to one of the above, aid may be granted to the person not responsible for the noncooperation. Refer to Application chapter.
Related Topics
Voluntary Termination of Employment