Gateway to Work

 

 

Indiana is at the onset of a jobs explosion! In the next 10 years, we expect to need some 1 million workers to fill jobs. Gateway to Work is part of the Healthy Indiana Plan that helps connect HIP members with job training, education or help finding the right job or volunteer activity. Whether you’re looking for a job or place to volunteer, a better-paying job or new skills, Gateway to Work can help.

Starting in 2019, some HIP members will be required to participate in qualifying Gateway to Work activities up to 80 hours a month for at least eight months a year to keep HIP benefits.

The Indiana Family Social and Services Administration will assign a Gateway to Work status to each HIP member. These statuses are “Exempt,” “Reporting,” or “Reporting Met.” FSSA will mail HIP members a letter with their Gateway to Work status toward the end of 2018.

Many HIP members will have a status of “Exempt.” If you meet any of the following exemptions, you are not required to participate in Gateway to Work during the months you are “Exempt:”

  • Caregiver of a dependent child under 7 years old
  • Caregiver of a disabled dependent
  • Homeless
  • Illness (Certified) or incapacity (Temporary)
  • Institutionalized
  • Kinship caregiver of an abused or neglected child
  • Medically frail
  • Pregnant
  • Recently incarcerated for a period of at least 30 days in the past 6 months
  • Student (half or full-time)
  • Substance use disorder
  • Other possible exemptions will be reviewed for good cause on an individual basis
  • Age 60 years and older
  • TANF or SNAP recipient

If your Gateway to Work status is “Reporting,” you will need to do qualifying activities for a certain number of hours each month. Here are the things you can do:

Work

  • Employed/Self Employed
  • Homeschooling
  • Job search activities
  • Education related to employment
  • Members of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi participating in a specific employment program

Learn

  • College Education
  • English as a second language education
  • General education
  • High School Equivalency (HSE)/Adult education)
  • Job skill training
  • Vocational education/training

Serve

  • Caregiving services
  • Community service/public service
  • Volunteer work
  • Other activities may qualify based on individual review

If your Gateway to Work status is “Reporting Met,” you are already meeting the requirement if you have reported to DFR that you are working at least 20 hours a week. You do not need to do anything new for Gateway to Work unless you report a change of employment to FSSA.

Definitions of exemptions and qualifying activities

Gateway to Work’s required activity hours will increase on a set schedule. This is to give you time to learn about the program, contact your health plan, find Gateway to Work partners and activities you can do, and set up your FSSA Benefits Portal account. After July 1, 2020, the required activity hours reach 80 hours per month.

 

Date Required Hours

January 1, 2019 – June 30, 2019

0 hours per month

July 1, 2019 – September 30, 2019

20 hours per month

October 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019

40 hours per month

January 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020

60 hours per month

July 1, 2020 – Ongoing

80 hours per month