WAG 21-06-02: Volunteers

PM 21-06-02

revised manual textVolunteers

Participation in the SNAP E&T Program is voluntary. The Office of Workforce Development manages most SNAP E&T Program functions in conjunction with the SNAP E&T Providers. Specific E&T components are tracked through the Illinois SNAP Employment and Training System (ISETS).

The FCRC:

  • Explains the SNAP E&T Program to customers at:
    • initial application; and
    • REDE; or 
    • whenever contact is made with a SNAP household whose members would benefit from being in the program.
  • Answers SNAP E&T questions in IES:

Non-Financial - Questions Screen

  • For SNAP purposes, answers (YES) to the question below when there is a member in the SNAP household who is subject to a SNAP work rule. This is a member who did not meet a Work Provision exemption and Work Requirement exemption and SNAP Work Rules (Form IL 444-5175) was completed and issued to the SNAP household.
    • Is anyone in the household subject to the work rules (TANF work and training, SNAP Work Provisions) or Requirements?
  • While explaining the SNAP E&T Program, answer (YES) to the question below, if the question has defaulted to (NO).
    • Would you like to review the SNAP Employment & Training screen?
  • This question will default to (NO) unless a record already exists and will remain enabled. If an existing record has been end-dated, the system will default the question to (YES) (Historical). If the question is defaulted to (YES) or (YES) (Historical), the system will queue the SNAP E&T Summary screen. If the question is updated to YES by the worker and a record does not currently exist, the system will queue the SNAP E&T Details screen.

SNAP E&T - Details Screen

  • The SNAP E&T -Details Screen will be queued when the gatepost question "Would you like to review the SNAP Employment & Training screen?" is answered to (YES), or when a current SNAP E&T record exists.
  • Answer (YES) or (NO) to the question, "When SNAP Employment & Training was discussed with the individual, was the individual determined to be suitable for SNAP Employment & Training?" 
    • This question is mandatory and is to ensure that the FCRC is identifying customers who are work ready or who may need some additional education or job training skills to become employed and are aware of the E&T services available to them. Once identified, and if the customer wants to volunteer for the program, the FCRC completes the referral to the Office of Workforce Development.
  • Complete "Individual participating in a SNAP Employment & Training Program?" and the field, "E&T Activity Review Month"
  • The FCRC will not enter any information in IES about a customer's participation in a SNAP E&T component. A message will display in the Individual Information section of the screen, "Specific E&T activities are tracked through the Illinois SNAP Employment and Training System (ISETS)".

SNAP Employment and Training Assessment 

  • When a customer volunteers to participate in the program, the FCRC completes Page 1 with the customer and signs on Page 4 of the SNAP Employment and Training Assessment (Form IL 444-5179). Email Form IL444-5179 to the respective email address below. Tell the customer that the Office of Workforce Development will contact them within 30 days.
  • Enter in the subject line of the email: SNAP E&T Referral and the case number. Do not put a customer's name in the email.  
  • Review any information received from the Office of Workforce Development about a customer's participation in the program to determine if any case action is required. Information will be provided in either the form of an IES task or email to designated FCRC staff from the Office of Workforce Development and will mainly occur when the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy is in effect and the customer is engaged in a SNAP E&T component to meet the Work Requirement. 
  • The customer is responsible for reporting changes to the FCRC based on their reporting requirement (Change Reporting or Mid-Point Reporting). Explain the applicable reporting requirements to the SNAP household. Employment information received from a source other than from the customer is considered unclear information even if the information is received from a SNAP E&T Provider.
  • Inform Change Reporting SNAP households to report getting a job within 10 calendar days of the date it becomes known to them. Mid-Point Reporting SNAP households are not required to report a job but are required to report when the income exceeds the monthly gross income standard for the household size. When SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits is in effect, customers living in counties that must meet the requirement are centrally converted to Change Reporting status.

Office of Workforce Development or SNAP E&T Provider:

  • Within 2 workdays after receipt of the referral, the Office of Workforce Development staff:
    • Will enter the customer's information from the referral into ISETS; and
    • Contact the customer within 30 days; and
    • Make a referral to a SNAP E&T Provider who will do a full assessment and complete the Employability Plan. 
    • Log all customer referrals, component participation, supportive services, case notes, and outcomes of the SNAP E&T program into the Illinois SNAP Employment and Training System (ISETS) tracking system; and
    • Report information to the FCRC if a case action is needed.
  • If a SNAP E&T Provider is not available, the Office of Workforce Development will manage the customer's case for employment and training.
  • All staffing will be handled by the Office of Workforce Development and the SNAP E&T Provider.

Note: FCRC staff do not have access to ISETS to enter information.

How FCRC Can Identify Potential Volunteers

  • Review the information reported on the initial and REDE application. Discuss the work status of each SNAP household member with the applicant during the interview.
  • Determine if members of the SNAP household meet a Work Provision (PM 03-15-02) exemption and when the policy is in effect, a Work Requirement exemption (PM 03-25-01). Currently the entire State continues to be waived from implementing the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy through 06/30/2023.
  • SNAP customers who do not meet a Work Provision exemption or Work Requirement exemption are considered work registrants. When the SNAP Work Rules (Form IL 444-5175) is given to the SNAP household for members who do not meet a work exemption and an oral explanation of work rules is provided, this serves as registering the nonexempt member for work. Do not refer a SNAP customer to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) to register for work.
  • Once the work status of each member has been determined, the FCRC is able to identify potential volunteers for the SNAP E&T Program. Explain the services that are available to help with any barriers a customer may be experiencing.
      • For customers who are unemployed but work ready, explain the SNAP E&T services that are available to help with work related expenses. Work ready means that the customer already has marketable job skills and may only need supportive services and help in seeking out potential employers.
      • For other customers who lack an education and/or work history, discuss employment interest and the SNAP E&T components that are available to help meet the specific needs of the individual.
      • Explain to SNAP households whose members would be subject to Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits, the work and training opportunities SNAP E&T offers that can help them become exempt or at least be meeting the work rule if the policy goes into effect. Explain the SNAP E&T Program whenever contact is made with a customer who asks about the program.
      • SNAP customers who are work exempt may also volunteer for the program.
    • Note: Regardless of a customer's work status, participation in SNAP E&T is not mandatory
  • Example 1: Mr. T, age 34, receives SNAP benefits. He is currently unemployed and does not meet a work exemption. The SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy is not in effect in any county. The FCRC completes Page 1 of the SNAP Work Rules (Form IL 444-5175) checking the box for Work Provisions and gives to Mr. T along with an oral explanation of Page 2 - Work Provisions rules, Page 3 - Work Requirement rules (to explain the rules if the policy should go into effect), Page 4 - Voluntary SNAP E&T Program and Page 5 - Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Nondiscrimination Statement and Appeal Rights and Page 6 - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nondiscrimination Statement. During the discussion, Mr. T states he has a commercial driver's license (CDL) and last worked as an over the road truck driver. He would like some help finding another job. The FCRC completes Page 1 and the signature on Page 4 of the SNAP Employment and Training Assessment (Form IL 444-5179) and emails the form to the Office of Workforce Development through the respective region's email address. The Office of Workforce Development will refer Mr. T to a SNAP E&T Provider that will do a full assessment and complete the Employability Plan. The SNAP E&T Provider and Mr. T will work together to determine the E&T components that best fit the needs of Mr. T.
  • Example 2: Ms. B and her 4-year old daughter receive SNAP benefits. Ms. B is exempt from the SNAP work rules because she is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 6. Although Ms. B is exempt, she has asked about the SNAP E&T Program and would like to volunteer for some job training experience. It is not necessary to give the SNAP Work Rules (Form IL 444-5175) to her. The FCRC completes Page 1 and the signature on Page 4 of the SNAP Employment and Training Assessment (Form IL 444-5179) and emails the form to the Office of Workforce Development through the respective region's email address. The Office of Workforce Development will refer Ms. B to a SNAP E&T Provider that will do a full assessment and complete the Employability Plan. The SNAP E&T Provider and Ms. B will work together to determine the E&T components that best fit her needs for the type of job training she would like.
  • Example 3: Ms. J, age 24, and her 3- year old child are receiving SNAP benefits. Ms. J has some experience at being a hair stylist in her home with friends and family. She would like to attend cosmetology school to become licensed and open her own business. Ms. J is not required to meet a work rule because she is responsible for the care of a child under the age of 6. It is not necessary to give the SNAP Work Rules (Form IL 444-5175) to her. However, Ms. J is inquiring about the SNAP E&T Program and how she can volunteer. The FCRC completes Page 1 and the signature on Page 4 of the SNAP Employment and Training Assessment (Form IL 444-5179) and emails the form to the Office of Workforce Development through the respective region's email address. The Office of Workforce Development will refer Ms. J to a SNAP E&T Provider that will do a full assessment and complete the Employability Plan. The SNAP E&T Provider and Ms. J will work together to determine the E&T components that best fit her needs for the type of job training she would like.

When SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits is in Effect

  • FCRCs are responsible for managing a customer's eligibility for benefits when the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits is in effect.
  • Refer customers who want to volunteer for SNAP E&T to meet the work requirement. The Office of Workforce Development will report information about participation and if the customer is no longer in the program. The FCRC will determine the appropriate action to take on the customer's eligibility for time-limited benefits.

Community Service

  • A customer may also choose to perform Community Service to meet the Work Requirement. Community Service is not a SNAP E&T component. A referral is not sent to the Office of Workforce Development. FCRCs in nonwaived areas will manage and monitor any customer that self-initiates Community Service with a preapproved Community Service Provider. Community Service Providers offer volunteer positions to individuals receiving SNAP to help them with meeting the Work Requirement when the policy is in effect.
  • Use SNAP Work Requirement - Community Work Verification (IL444-3673) to verify the work hours at the start of when a customer volunteers with the Community Service Provider. A customer is required to work an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours per month) to meet the Work Requirement. Work hours are not verified monthly. It is the customer's responsibility to report any changes in their work status. Customers participating in Community Service are not eligible for SNAP E&T supportive services.