WAG 21-06-07-g: Community Workfare

PM 21-06-07-g

Community Workfare

  1. FCRC or SNAP E&T Provider:
    • Reviews and discusses the Community Workfare component with each customer.
  2. FCRC:
    • Completes Page 1 and signs on Page 4 of the Employment and Training Assessment (Form IL 444-5179) to refer a customer to the Office of Workforce Development. Emails Form IL444-5179) to the respective email address below.
    • 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. 
  3. Office of Workforce Development:
    1. Enters the information received on Form IL444-5179 into ISETS within 2 workdays.
    2. Once the information has been entered into ISETS, determines if there is an appropriate SNAP E&T Provider for a customer referral. If there is a SNAP E&T Provider with slots available, processes the referral in ISETS.
    3. If a SNAP E&T Provider slot is not available, places the customer on a waiting list. Notifies the customer of their placement on the waiting list.
    4. If there are SNAP E&T services available but not a SNAP E&T Provider, then the Office of Workforce Development will serve as the Provider offering Case Management and supportive services. If SNAP E&T services or a SNAP E&T Provider are not available, the Office of Workforce Development will notify the customer and the FCRC.
  4. SNAP E&T Provider:
    • Uses ISETS to make and accept referrals, manage SNAP E&T participation and enter case notes, progress report information and issue supportive services.
  5. Office of Workforce Development or SNAP E&T Provider:
    • Completes customer's attendance and progress in ISETS.
  6. Office of Workforce Development or FCRC or SNAP E&T Provider:
    • Verifies the need for all supportive service expenses and their costs. This information must be furnished by the customer. To authorize supportive service payment for expenses, see WAG 21-06-11.
      • Note: The FCRC should only issue supportive services if they cannot be issued by the servicing SNAP E&T Provider (a bus pass to attend the initial meeting with the SNAP E&T Provider).

Determine Hours of Participation

  • Determine the number of volunteer hours a person must perform in Community Workfare each month to meet the SNAP Work Requirement.
  • Divide the SNAP household's monthly SNAP benefit amount by the State or Federal Minimum wage (whichever is higher).
  • The work hours, to meet the Work Requirement, may be performed by one nonexempt member of the SNAP household or the nonexempt members may agree to share work hours as long as the required number of hours are worked.

Note: The SNAP benefit amount a household is determined to be eligible to receive is used to calculate the work obligation amount, regardless of benefits being reduced due to a recoupment. The household's hours of obligation for any given month may not be carried over into another month.

How to Calculate Work Hours for the SNAP Work Requirement

A SNAP household is defined as a household that purchases and prepares food together.

  • Example 1: One-member SNAP household receives revised manual text$281 in SNAP benefits and does Community Workfare.

    Community Workfare obtained through an E&T Provider referral.

  • revised manual text$281÷ $13.00 (State minimum wage) = 21 hours (round down).
  • Example 2: Three-member SNAP household receiving the maximum SNAP household allotment(new manual text$740) and does Community Workfare obtained through an E&T Provider referral.
    • revised manual text$740 (allotment) ÷ 3 (HH members) = $246 each member (round down)
    • revised manual text$246 (1 ABAWD) ÷ revised manual text$13.00 ( State minimum wage) = 18 hours (round down).