III. SNAP E&T Program Activities

A. Job Placement with Retention

Job Placement with Retention Providers may engage participants for 80 hours per month in one or a combination of activities for which they do not receive cash assistance. Approved activities include Basic Education, Vocational Training, and/or Work Experience.

Work experience is available to SNAP E & T customers to:

1. obtain meaningful work experience; or
2. maintain or enhance existing employment skills.

Unpaid work is performed for public or private not-for-profit organizations (employers).

Employers must not use SNAP E&T participants to displace employees.

Participants may work up to 80 hours per month. SNAP E&T participants should not be placed in positions where other regular employees have been laid off or otherwise displaced. Work Experience assignments are further described in Section V-K.

1. Job Placement with Retention and Special Project Providers are to engage participants in activities which enhance their employability and lead toward their transition to self-sufficiency.
2. Job Placement with Retention and Special Project Providers may engage participants in Supervised Job Search/Job Readiness activities within their program designs. These activities can be required in addition to other activities when helpful to the participant's overall employability.
3. Supervised Job Search - requires the participant, with staff assistance, to actively contact employers and seek employment. The participant must attend all scheduled meetings and where activities are supervised and traced in accordance with guidelines issued by the State. Employer contacts must be documented in writing. Participants in Supervised Job Search must be referred to register with the Department of Employment Security. A participant may only be enrolled to Supervised Job Search for 8 weeks in a 12 consecutive month period as part of another countable activity.
4. Job Readiness - may include training in preparation for work including following and accepting supervision, time management issues, appropriate workplace behavior, job seeking skills, learning to budget, establishing bank accounts, etc. Participation in Job Readiness is for a minimum of two sessions per month for 2-4 hours per session. Participants may only be engaged in Job Readiness along with another activity.

Participant activity in Supervised Job Search and Job Readiness should be closely monitored.

B. Basic Education

Information, referral, counseling services and supportive services are provided to the customer. Customers may be referred to testing, counseling and educational resources at public community colleges, adult education centers, state or local agencies or to programs which sponsor such activities.

1. Approval Criteria

Providers assign customers who are determined to need additional Adult Basic /GED/ESL education. Approval is based upon assessment of the following:

1. the customer presents or is determined to lack literacy or language skills (i.e. cannot read or write or very limited ability of the aforementioned);
2. the customer does not possess a high school diploma or a GED;
3. the program will lead to unsubsidized employment. Consider the time required to complete, the overall cost and quality of the program;
4. the customer possesses the aptitude, ability, and interest needed for success in the education or training program (as determined by such factors as test results, educational background and previous training); the program is administered by an educational institution accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, or the Department of Registration, or is Work Investment Opportunities Act (WIOA) funded; and
5. the program is administered by an education institution accredited by the Illinois State Board of Education, or the Department of Registration, or is Work Investment Opportunities Act (WIOA) funded; and
6. the customer will apply for any grants or scholarships identified by the educational facilities for which the customer may be eligible.

Employed customers who still meet SNAP eligibility may take part in programs voluntarily to upgrade their employment potential.

2. Entry Into the Component

Customers may be assigned to this component as part of their Employability Plan (EP):

3. Component Requirements

1. The customer is required to attend classes as defined by the training or educational facility.
2. Missing 3 days of classes in a 30-day period without good cause may result in the customer being exited from the program.
3. Curriculum changes must be updated in the customers EP and must be consistent with the written goals of the training program.
4. The customer must provide monthly proof of attendance and progress on the Monthly Outcome & Activity Report (IL-444-2606).

4. Contact With Customers

Customer contact consists of attendance reports, progress reports, group or individual sessions, telephone calls, on-site program visits, and written correspondence.

Contact the customer monthly if supportive service payments are issued. Provide supportive service payments as outlined in the Policy Manual/Workers Action Guide 21-06-11. Before payments are issued, determine if the customer has applied for scholarships or grants and if benefits are being received. If benefits are being received, determine continued need for supportive services.

C. Vocational Training

1. Approval Criteria

The Vocational Training activity is for customers who will benefit from short-term training to obtain unsubsidized employment.

As part of an Earnfare assignment, a customer may be in Vocational Training for less than 80 hours per month, as long as the total combination of hours (Earnfare and Vocational Training or Basic Education) equals the required hours per month.

This activity offers special time-limited services for customers who:

1. can benefit from short-term vocational training (e.g., a person with the interest and ability to complete the training program and be hired in a position for which the person has trained); or
2. are readily employable with the addition of short-term training (i.e., a training program for specific job openings which are available).

2. Entry Into the Activity

Customers may be assigned to this activity as part of their Employability Plan (EP).

3.  Activity Requirements

4.  Contact With Customers

Contact the customer at least monthly. Customer contact consists of attendance reports, progress reports, group or individual sessions, telephone calls, on-site program visits and written correspondence.

Consider the need for supportive service payments for mandatory school fees, books and supplies, transportation, and pre-training physical examinations.

If benefits are being received, determine the continued need for supportive services.

D. Job Readiness

Job Readiness activities are only allowable as part of another activity. Job Readiness can include counseling, job placement services, skills assessment, job seeking skills training, life skills workshops, phone bank skills sessions, and information sharing about the labor market.

Participation in Job Readiness is for a minimum of 2 sessions per month for 2-4 hours a session. The length of time a person participates in Job Readiness as part of another countable activity may vary.

Job Readiness gives the customer a chance to return to work by refining job seeking and interviewing skills through intensive training.

1. Approval Criteria - The individual must need help in obtaining job seeking skills, career planning, and interviewing techniques.
2. Entry Into the Component - Customers may be assigned to this component as part of their Employability Plan (EP).
3. Component Requirements - 
   1. The customer must attend all scheduled classes or sessions and make satisfactory progress as defined by the written policy of the Job Readiness provider.
   2. The customer must respond to a job referral, accept suitable employment and respond to call-in notices for interviews.

E. Supervised Job Search

Supervised Job Search activities are only allowable as part of another activity. Supervised Job Search is a customer effort, with Provider assistance, to actively contact employers and secure a job. A customer may only be assigned to Supervised Job Search for 8 weeks in a 12 consecutive month period as part of another countable activity.

Customers must attend all scheduled meetings, including pre-arranged Job Skills Workshops. The customer is sent a notice of all scheduled meetings. The meetings include a review of progress in completing the component requirements. Conduct job seeking skills exercises during the meeting.

Nonexempt customers who fail to attend the meetings without good cause may result in the customer being exited from the program

F. Work Experience

SNAP E & T customers may volunteer for the Work Experience component to:

• obtain a meaningful work experience; or
• maintain or enhance existing employment skills.

Unpaid work is performed for public or private not-for-profit organizations (employers).

Employers must not use SNAP E & T customers to displace employees; there must be an adherence to a specific ratio of customer engagement/work experience with employers. They cannot be used to open or close a facility.

If a customer, their representative or an employee of the employer believes a Work Experience assignment is causing displacement, they may file a written grievance with the Department.

1. Entry Into the Activity

Customers are enrolled to this activity based on an assessment of their education, training, work history and the needs of the employer.

Consider the customer's prior training, proficiency, experience, skills, and vocational preference when making assignments to this activity. Customers are selected for Work Experience, considering their skills and the needs of the employer, as slots are available.

2. Activity Requirements

Participants may volunteer to participate in as many hours as they would like. ABAWDs subject to time-limited benefits (living in a non-waived county) must work 80 hours per month in order to maintain benefits. Customers who participate in a qualifying activity for the number of hours required, meet the work requirement for SNAP benefits (see PM 03-25-00).

Customers must report on time. If they cannot appear or will be late, they must immediately notify the Work Experience employer.

An initial failure to report to the Work Experience assignment, or failure to attend one day in any 30-day period without good cause may result in the customer being exited from the program.

During participation in this activity, customers may take part in education and training programs, as appropriate, and must meet the SNAP E & T program requirements (see PM 21-06-03).

G. Earnfare

Earnfare gives adult customers who receive SNAP benefits and who volunteer or are court ordered to participate, the opportunity to earn cash assistance and gain work experience. Earnfare participants may be assigned up to a maximum of 80 hours per month and may earn up to a maximum of $325 per month after working off the value of their SNAP benefit divided by the state minimum wage. The period of time during which benefits are being "worked off" is considered Community Workfare.

Receipt of SNAP benefits are not an eligibility requirement for a noncustodial parent of a TANF child(ren) who is ordered by a court to participate in Earnfare. Customers are not entitled to be placed in an Earnfare slot. Earnfare slots are made available as resources permit.

Earnfare participants earn cash if they work hours beyond their SNAP work off amount (Community Workfare). A person who fails to cooperate with Earnfare may be removed from the activity.

1. Administration and Contracts. 

Earnfare is administered by the Department and regular Earnfare providers.

The Department:

• enters into contracts with non-for-profit agencies or groups to help develop job slots and
• provides Workers' Compensation coverage for each customer assigned to Earnfare.

Earnfare assignments must not displace persons who:

• are employed as full-time or part-time employees of the employer, regardless of whether the person is currently working or on a leave of absence;
• are, or have been involved in a labor dispute between a labor organization and the employer; or
• have been temporarily laid off by the employer.

2. Eligibility and Benefit Amount

Participation is limited to 6 months out of 12 months in a row. A month is any month the customer receives an Earnfare payment of any amount. The 12 months is a fixed period that begins in July and ends in June of the following year.

Individuals who receive TANF, or who would be eligible for TANF if they applied are not eligible to participate in Earnfare.

A person participating in Earnfare can earn a maximum of $325 a month.

The hours of work obligation (community workfare) change each time the SNAP customer's monthly SNAP benefit changes by at least $20. This is effective the same month as the change in the SNAP benefit. Notify the employer of the number of hours of employment to be performed by an Earnfare customer.

Customers must be credited with hours of work that the employer certifies, according to the employer contract with the Department.

Regular Earnfare wages are paid by the Provider.

SNAP customers earn cash payments only for the hours worked in excess of their work obligation hours. Earnfare wages are budgeted as unearned income for SNAP benefits.

The Department, through Program Managers, will act as mediators to try to resolve any disputes between the employer and the customer when they disagree over the number of hours worked. If the dispute cannot be resolved, the customer may appeal (see PM 01-07-00).

3. Notification and Referrals

All customers must be given a written notice when they leave Earnfare, specifying when they may requalify.

Refer any person to Earnfare who requests a referral.

Within 30 days after a request for an Earnfare referral:

• persons not qualifying for Earnfare must be given or sent a notice stating they do not qualify and will not receive a referral;
• persons requesting a referral and qualifying for Earnfare must be provided with a written notice that acknowledges the request and informs them they are eligible.

When possible, within 30 days of the written notice, customers must be assessed and referred to a suitable Earnfare slot.

Within 30 days after any additional Earnfare slots become available, customers must be called in for an assessment and referral.

When an appropriate slot is available, assign the customer to an Earnfare activity. Assess the customer based on their age, literacy, education, educational achievement, job training, work experience, and any recent mental or physical hospitalization.

Consider these factors when they are known to the Department or its contractors and relate to the customer's success in carrying out the assigned activities and in obtaining employment.

4.  Activity Requirements

1. Customers may volunteer to take part in Earnfare. Participation is limited to 6 months out of 12 in a row. The 12 months is a fixed period which begins in July and ends in June of the following year. Earnfare participants may be assigned up to a maximum of 80 hours per month.
2. When notified, customers must report to their Earnfare assignment on time. When they cannot report to the assignment, or if they will be late, they must immediately notify the employer.
3. During the assignment, customers must accept bona fide offers of suitable employment.
4. During the assignment, customers must apply for suitable jobs for which the Earnfare administering agency or employer makes a referral.

Providers should reassess the customer when they show an inability to perform assigned work. If appropriate, refer the customer to apply for Federal SSI benefits.

A customer may be dismissed by the Earnfare employer before the assignment ends:

• upon the customer's failure to live up to the requirements of the assignment; or
• upon the customer's commission of any gross misconduct on the job.

If an Earnfare employer dismisses a customer before the end of assignment, The Department, through a Provider Manager, will investigate to determine if good cause exists (PM 21-06-10-d). If good cause exists, the customer may be returned to the assignment. If the customer did not have good cause, they may participate in another activity.

Customers in unsubsidized (by the Department) jobs while in Earnfare may be eligible for job retention supports.

H. Community Workfare

Community Workfare includes unpaid work a person performs at a not for profit organization, such as a school, church, or a government agency.

The participant chooses and arranges their own placement, with input from the FCRC caseworker. Community Workfare provides the customer with employment skills and references that can help them get a job.

1. Entry Into the Activity - A customer may participate in this activity when they have little or no work experience and need to obtain employment skills and experience.
2. Activity Requirements - Participants enrolled in Community Workfare, who work the number of hours that meet their FLSA (their amount of SNAP benefits divided by minimum wage) meet the work requirement (ABAWDs who live in non-waived counties). To calculate the number of hours needed see (WAG 21-06-07-g). A customer subject to time-limited benefits or work requirements who participates in Community Workfare for the number of hours required, meets the work requirement for SNAP benefits.