7.4.4 At Risk Pregnancy (ARP)

The At Risk Pregnancy (ARP) placement is for pregnant individual in their third trimester who have a medically verified at risk pregnancy. Participants in this placement receive a monthly payment of $673 and are not subject to the requirements of W-2 employment positions, such as Employability Plans (EPs), sanctions for nonparticipation, etc.

Pregnant teens younger than 18 years are not eligible for an ARP placement.

7.4.4.1 ARP Eligibility Requirements

A pregnant woman who meets all of the following requirements must be placed in an ARP placement:

· Meets all W-2 financial and nonfinancial eligibility requirements, except the woman is not a Custodial Parent (CP) of a dependent child who resides in the woman’s home;

· Is in the third trimester of pregnancy, defined as the 12 weeks before the medically verified estimated delivery date (see 7.4.6.2);

· Is unable to work as a result of the at-risk pregnancy, as verified by a qualified physician.

ARP applicants are not required to have made a good faith effort to obtain employment and have not refused any bona fide offer of employment, including a job quit, within 180 calendar days immediately preceding application. (See 2.2.1, #8)

EXAMPLE: Sophia is seven months pregnant with her first child and is not married. Sophia’s doctor recently put her on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy due to a pregnancy-related medical condition. While on bed rest, Sophia applies for W-2 through ACCESS. A FEP then contacted Sophia by phone and went to Sophia’s home to complete her W-2 application. After determining Sophia as a good candidate for a W-2 ARP placement, Sophia’s FEP gave her an ARP Medical Information/Verification form (4070) to give to her doctor with the following information already filled out:

1. The W-2 agency’s name, address, phone, and email; and

2. Sophia’s name and birthdate.

Based on the remaining information in the form, completed by Sophia’s doctor, and the information Sophia already had provided to the W-2 agency, the FEP placed Sophia in an ARP placement.

Sophia is seven months pregnant with her first child and is not married. Sophia’s doctor recently put her on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy due to a pregnancy-related medical condition. While on bed rest, Sophia applies for W-2 through ACCESS. A FEP contacts Sophia by phone and goes to Sophia’s home to complete her W-2 application. After determining Sophia as a good candidate for an ARP placement, the FEP gives her an ARP Medical Information/Verification form (4070) for her doctor with the following information already filled out:

1. The W-2 agency’s name, address, phone, and email; and

2. Sophia’s name and birthdate.

After Sophia’s doctor completes the form, the FEP places Sophia in an ARP placement.

7.4.4.2 ARP Medical Information Requirements

The required medical information/verification for ARP must be provided through either:

2. A letter from the physician on the physician’s letterhead that includes all of the medical information listed below.

3. Participant’s estimated due date, provided by the participant’s physician;

5. Physician’s statement of the reason the participant’s pregnancy is an at-risk pregnancy;

6. Physician’s statement that the participant is unable to work due to the at-risk pregnancy;

7. Start date for the participant being unable to work due to the at-risk pregnancy;

9. Physician’s specialty which must be General Medicine, Family Medicine or Obstetrics;

12. Date of the physician’s signature (must be no earlier than 30 days prior to the participant’s third trimester start date); and

The physician-provided medical information/verification must be based on the physician’s medical examination of the participant.

The physician’s signed statement on either the ARP Medical Information/Verification form (4070) or on the physician’s letter must be completed no earlier than 30 days prior to the beginning of the participant’s third trimester of pregnancy. Medical information/verification completed earlier must be resubmitted and updated by the physician within the required time frame.

7.4.4.3 ARP Placement/Payment Start Date

The start date for an ARP placement must be the latest of the following three dates:

· Start date of the third trimester, defined as 12 weeks before the medically verified estimated due date; or

· Date specified by the physician in the ARP medical information/verification as the date the participant is no longer able to work due to the at-risk pregnancy.

7.4.4.4 Child Support Requirements and the 60-Month Federal Lifetime Limit

Participants in an ARP placement are not required to cooperate with child support or assign their rights to child support payments. ARP placements do not count towards the 60-month federal lifetime limit because ARP payments are considered short term assistance under TANF regulations.

If an ARP participant transitions to another placement, child support requirements applicable to the new placement must be followed.

7.4.4.5 ARP Case Management Requirements

The W-2 agency must contact ARP participants at least once a month either in-person or by phone, depending on the needs of the ARP participant, to discuss the participant’s needs.

For example, if an ARP participant expresses concerns related to their health, the FEP may refer them to visiting nurse services or prenatal care support programs.

7.4.4.6 Ending ARP Placement/Payment

· The date the ARP participant transitions to a different W-2 placement, such as CMC, after the birth of the child;

· Twenty days after the estimated due date, when CARES batch process ends the ARP placement:

· The date the participant no longer meets ARP eligibility criteria. (See 7.4.4.1)