SECTION 372.1155. Consequence for Noncooperation with Personal Responsibility Agreement Requirements

(a) If a person fails or refuses to cooperate with a requirement of a Personal Responsibility Agreement (PRA) the person signed, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) takes the applicable action described in subsections (b) - (e) of this section, unless the person demonstrates good cause for the noncooperation as explained in §372.1156 of this division (relating to Good Cause for Noncooperation with Personal Responsibility Agreement Requirements).

(b) HHSC stops TANF benefits to a person and to the household for a one-month period or until the person demonstrates cooperation with the requirement of the PRA for which the sanction was imposed, whichever is longer.

(c) If a person fails or refuses to cooperate with either of the requirements described in §372.1154(a) or (g) of this division (relating to Cooperating with Personal Responsibility Agreement Requirements), HHSC denies Medicaid benefits to the person (but not to other members of the household who are receiving Medicaid), unless the person demonstrates to HHSC:

(1) the person is pregnant; or

(2) the person is under age 19.

(d) If a person fails or refuses to cooperate with the requirements described in §372.1154(g) of this division, the person's SNAP benefits will be subject to consequences specified in §372.1352 of this subchapter (relating to Consequences for Noncompliance with SNAP Work Requirements) unless the person is otherwise exempt from SNAP work requirements as specified in 7 CFR §273.7.

(e) If a person fails to cooperate for two consecutive months, HHSC terminates the person's and the household's eligibility for TANF benefits. The person must reapply for TANF benefits and demonstrate cooperation with all PRA requirements that apply to the person for a one-month period before the person or the household may again receive TANF benefits.

Source Note: The provisions of this §372.1155 adopted to be effective September 1, 2009, 34 TexReg 5361; amended to be effective February 3, 2013, 38 TexReg 368