3_5_Transportation

.Purpose

Policy

Background

Release Date:

August 8, 2019

Definitions

Requirements

Verification Docs

GROW

3.5 Transportation

Purpose

( ) To release a new policy

( ) To release a new form

( ) To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes

(X) Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What Changed?

Effective November 29, 2019, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will no longer accept bus tokens. Beginning July 1, 2019, the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) will phase out tokens by gradually replacing the tokens with the Stored Value Transit Access Pass (SV TAP) cards.

Note: Changes are shown highlighted in gray throughout the document.

Policy

Transportation assistance is to be provided to General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW) participants for the following purposes:

a. Commute to/from an approved GROW activity;

b. Find employment;

c. Attend Case Manager Appointment (CMA); and

d. Commute to/from employment.

Transportation payments are not available to participants in the following situations:

a. The participant is receiving free transportation or transportation is paid through another program;

b. The participant is receiving a transportation payment from a GROW contracted provider; or

c. The participant voluntarily opts to walk or ride a bike to assigned activity.

Participants are required to provide a transportation purchase receipt within ten business days of the transportation issuance date.

Background

Transportation expenses are costs incurred by individuals participating in the GROW Program and intended to assist the participant in successfully completing their designated GROW activity; and/or obtain employment. Therefore, the transportation plan developed for the participant should be comprehensively designed to ensure it meets his or her transportation needs and employment goal.

Definitions

Term

Description

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card

EBT is an electronic system that allows benefits to be issued via a magnetically encoded payment card. This card is used to issue

GR/CalFresh/CalWORKs benefits, in addition to GROW ancillary and transportation payments.

Transit Access Pass (TAP) Card

TAP is a durable plastic card that allows riders to electronically purchase and pre-load MTA passes, participating regional and local transit passes, stored value or any combination of the three options.

Requirements

Issuances	Limit/Condition
GROW Transportation Modes	Transportation is available in the following modes: a. Cash issued via EBT card to pay for monthly/weekly/daily passes; b. MTA SV TAP cards in denominations of $3.50, $7.00, $10.50 (daily) and $25 (weekly for GROW) will be used in place of discontinued MTA bus tokens; and c. Bus transfer cash issued via EBT.
Amount Determination	GROW staff are required to determine the least costly fare when issuing transportation to the participant. This process requires: a. Working with MTA and other cross carriers to obtain information on reduced fares; and b. Development of a reduced fare transportation plan with the participant for each assigned activity.
Reimbursements	Participants are entitled to transportation reimbursement via EBT card when they incur a transportation cost to attend a GROW related appointment and transportation was not issued prior to the appointment. A receipt is required when the participant requests reimbursement.
Transportation Purchase Verification	A transportation purchase receipt must be provided within ten business days of the transportation issuance date. This includes verifying issuances on EBT card to pre-load monthly/weekly/daily passes on the TAP card; or issuances to purchase any other mode of transportation. Note: A transportation purchase verification is not needed for daily/weekly issuances received in the form of the SV TAP cards at the district office or GROW site. In addition, a transportation purchase verification is not required for issuances provided by GROW contractors.
Contracted Activities	The participant is entitled to receive a one-trip issuance when assigned to a contracted activity that requires the contractor to issue transportation after the first day of enrollment.
Interactive Case Management (ICM)	The transportation allowance for ICM must be determined by the information provided by the participant regarding the transportation plan that will be used to engage in an ICM job search assignment; or other activity that is allowable under the ICM component.

Verification Documents