WorkPAYS – A Great Employment Program

Several weeks ago the state rolled out a new employment program targeted at TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) households and New Jersey employers. It is the best program to come along in a long, long time. So if you are receiving cash assistance for yourself and your family please read on. If you work for a nonprofit read on and tell your clientele.

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development has created a subsidized employment program for Work First New Jersey TANF clients. The goal of the program is to create jobs for TANF clients that may become permanent or provide work experience that will lead to an unsubsidized job with a different employer. Under the state guidelines WorkPAYS will reimburse employers 100% of the hourly wages for a period of six months. The program is time-limited. It begins March 1 and ends September 30, 2010.

TANF clients should contact their Work First New Jersey Case Manager for more details and to receive a “Dear Employer” letter which they can present to prospective employers. Interested employers would be contacted by Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) personnel.

Additional information to job seekers is available online on the LWD website.

Work pays.

Author: Michael Swayze

A retired county welfare agency administrator, who combines social work and computer skills to share information on community resources via the Internet since 1995. Active in voter engagement activities in Philadelphia, PA.

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