What happens when a client does not fulfill their Work Registration Obligations?

Work Registration rules impose two different disqualification periods on clients who fail or refuse to meet their Work Registration obligations: a disqualification for failing to comply with Work Registration obligations and a disqualification for voluntarily quitting or reducing work effort. The length of the disqualification for these violations differs.  Because of the differences in the disqualification time, you must recognize the violations associated with each disqualification in order to impose the correct penalty.   

Failure to Comply

A client "fails to comply" when they violate the following Work Registration obligations without "good cause."

• The client must register for work at the initial application and every subsequent certification.

• The client must provide accurate information regarding the client's employment status or availability for work.
• The client must accept any bona fide offer for "suitable" employment.
• The client must continue to meet their TANF and UIB work requirements.

Voluntary Quit or Reduction of Work Effort

Violating one of the other two Work Registration obligations requires a different penalty. 

• The client must not "voluntarily quit" a job where the client worked at least 30 hours per week or received pay equaling at least 30 hours per week times the federal minimum wage without "good cause."
• The client must not reduce work effort to less than 30 hours per week without "good cause."

Once you have determined what type of Work Registration violation best fits your client's circumstances.  You will need to see if the client is entitled to a "good cause" declaration or gained a Work Registration exemption.  If they have not, apply the appropriate disqualification to the client who did not meet their Work Registration obligations.  

You can find information concerning the disqualification for "failing to comply" and "voluntary quitting" or "reducing work effort" in this Handbook.