What are the requirements?
If you are a single parent, you must participate in employment and training for:
- 20 hours per week if the child is under age 6
- 30 hours per week if the child is over age 6
If you are a two-parent household, you must participate in employment and training for:
- 35 hours per week if the child is 6 years old or younger and you do not already get child care assistance
- 55 hours per week if your child is over age 6 and you do already get child care assistance
Note: A week is from Saturday through Friday.
Is it required for everyone?
Temporary Assistance recipients are required to participate in employment and training, unless:
- There is a domestic violence situation and participating in employment and training activities would cause physical or emotional harm to you or the children in the household
- You are over 60 years of age or are permanently disabled
- You have a child under 12 weeks of age
- You are needed in the home to care for a disabled family member
Even if you are not required, you can still choose to participate in employment and training with the Missouri Work Assistance Program (MWA).
What happens if I don't participate in the MWA program?
If you do not participate in employment and training activities through the MWA program, your Temporary Assistance benefit will be reduced by half and then stopped.
How can I get started?
Reach out to a MWA location near you to get started today!