I have cash assistance and I received a notice that I missed an appointment for a work activity. What should I do?

Beginning April 28, 2025, HRA has re-started the “conciliation/re-engagement” process for cash assistance (CA) or public assistance (PA) recipients and applicants. You should get different notices from HRA/DSS asking you to “engage” or participate in their work program. If HRA claims that you have not done the employability process and/or that your assigned work activity, HRA should send you a notice called a “Re-engagement and Conciliation Notice” (Form LDSS-5087).

What does the Re-Engagement and Conciliation Notice mean?

This notice is a warning that your benefits will stop unless you do something. You must either prove that you should be exempt from the work rules and/or explain why you had good cause to miss your work activity or appointment. The notice explains how and by when to contact HRA. See more on work exemptions here.

What is good cause?

“Good cause” is something outside of your control that kept you from going to a work activity or appointment.

How do I show good cause?

Good cause is both an explanation and, most of the time, some piece of paper to support your reason. For example, you could not make your appointment because your child was sick. You go to your center and tell the HRA worker that your child was sick. You show a doctor’s note for your child that is dated on or right around the date of the appointment.

How do I know if HRA approves my good cause?

HRA must give you a notice if your good cause is granted. Even if HRA denies you good cause, you may still be able to avoid a sanction on your case by showing that you have complied with the work rules.

How do I show that I have complied? What is five days of demonstrated compliance?

If the worker does not grant you good cause and/or you go to your center after the deadline in your notice, you might still avoid a sanction if you comply for five business days in a row with whatever program/rule HRA claimed you violated. So, for example, if you showed up at your CareerCompass site for five business days in a row, then you would likely not get sanctioned (assuming those five days are in the same month).

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* The information does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter. Legal help subject to capacity and location.