Family Stabilization Services (FSS)

There is a program that can help MFIP families that are having a hard time finding or keeping a job. Counties have to help these families by giving them Family Stabilization Services (FSS).

• You can get services to help your family become more stable.
• You can get a modified Employment Plan. The modified Plan might give you time to go to necessary appointments or therapy sessions by letting you do  fewer work or work search hours.
• These services can help you stay out of sanction.

You are eligible for FSS if any of these are true:

• You are applying for SSI or Social Security benefits because you are disabled. Get proof from Social Security.
   
• You are ill, injured, or disabled. This includes physical and mental illnesses. Get proof from a doctor that:
   
  • your illness, injury, or disability is going to last more than 30 days, and 
  • it keeps you from working 20 or more hours per week.
     
• You are taking care of a seriously ill or disabled household member. Get proof from a doctor that:
   
  • the person is ill or disabled
  • the condition will last more than 30 days
  • you need to be home to take care of the person.
     
• There is a child or adult in your household who is eligible for special medical services. For example, you have a child who is severely emotionally disturbed, an adult with serious and persistent mental illness, or someone who qualifies for a PCA or for waivered services. Get proof from their doctor or therapist.
   
• You are a victim of family violence. See our fact sheet, MFIP and FSS for Family Violence Victims.
   
• You have been in the United States for fewer than 12 full months after the month of entry.
   
• You are age 60 or older.
   
• A vocational expert says you can’t work more than 20 hours a week. Reasons for this might be that you don’t speak or understand English, you have problems with drugs or alcohol.
   
• You have a learning disability or you have an IQ below 80, and this limits the kind of work you can do or makes it hard to work 20 or more hours per week. Ask your job counselor to refer you for testing. 
   
• You have been getting MFIP for more than 60 months because you got an extension.

If you think you might be eligible for FSS, tell your job counselor. Your job counselor should tell you what to do next. If that doesn’t work, talk to your job counselor’s supervisor.

You need to meet with a job counselor to make an FSS plan. An FSS plan should include activities you need to help your family. For example, it could include ESL or GED classes, medical appointments, looking for housing, etc. You should be able to get help with transportation and childcare expenses so you can do your FSS activities.

Many families in sanction should be in FSS. You do not have to get out of sanction to transfer to FSS.

Many families can get out of sanction if they meet with their FSS counselor. It is also possible to get out of sanction for earlier months if you have “good cause.” Good cause can be illness, lack of childcare or transportation, an emergency, family violence, or some other reason that you couldn’t follow your employment plan. If you think you should get FSS and you are working on getting proof that you qualify, your sanction should be lifted. If your job counselor won’t lift the sanction, file an appeal.

• Talk to your job counselor’s supervisor.
• You have the right to appeal the decision. See our fact sheet, Benefits Appeals to DHS. 
• Call Legal Aid right away at 1-(877) 696-6529.