05/20/2024
Summary
- As a result of a review conducted by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), changes have been made to Illinois' SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program.
- This manual release provides guidance on the Provider Determination procedures to follow when a customer's inability to effectively participate in the program has been reported to the Office of Workforce Development. The SNAP to Success section in PM 21-06-09 is replaced with policy on the Provider Determination procedures.
- The Office of Workforce Development will notify the Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) when it has been determined that a volunteer is not suitable for the program. The FCRC will send new Form IL444-4974, SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program Provider Determination Notice, to the SNAP household as notification of the decision. FCRC staff will be notified when this form becomes available in the Forms Library on OneNet.
- A revision has been made to Form IL444-5179, SNAP Employment and Training Referral Assessment (Referrals from FCRC to the Office of Workforce Development). FCRC workers should complete the assessment using Form IL444-5179 with the volunteer's input. If Form IL444-5179 is not completed in its entirety, at a minimum, the FCRC must ensure that Page 1 is completed, and the form is signed by both the volunteer and worker on Page 4 before sending to the Office of Workforce Development.
- Form IL444-4970, SNAP Employment and Training Referral is being revised. Form IL444-4970 is used to communicate information between the SNAP E&T Provider and Office of Workforce Development and should not be used by FCRC staff.
- Form IL444-2610, SNAP Monthly Report, is currently being revised to use for Community Service participation.
- Form IL444-2839, The SNAP Employment and Training Employability Plan is being revised.
- PM 21-06-07 is revised to include an updated description for Work Experience Components/Work-Based Learning.
- This manual release also clarifies that the policy published in MR #24.07 Former Foster Care Update, dated 03/19/2024 is for medical programs and is unrelated to the SNAP Work Requirement exemption allowed for individuals who are age 24 and younger and were in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday.
- As a reminder, the entire State, including Cook County is under the waiver for the SNAP Work Requirement ABAWD Time-Limit policy through 10/31/2024. Workers should not routinely complete the second box for Work Provisions/Work Requirements on Page 1 of the SNAP Work Rules (Form IL444-5175) for individuals who would be considered nonexempt if this policy was in effect. Complete the first box on Form IL444-5175 and explain the Work Provision. It is the worker's responsibility to explain that the time-limit is not in effect. Use Page 3 as a guide to explain the Work Requirement policy to nonexempt individuals who would be required to comply if the policy was in effect so that they are aware and have the opportunity to prepare for the change.
SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program
SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) is a voluntary program in Illinois that offers SNAP participants access to training and support services to help them enter or move up in the workforce. The program helps reduce barriers to work by providing support services as the participant prepares for and obtains employment. The program also helps with work-related expenses for the first 90 days of employment when the job is obtained while participating in SNAP E&T.
Oral Explanation of Program
- SNAP households must be made aware of the SNAP E&T program and be given an opportunity to take advantage of its services. Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) staff are required to give an oral explanation of the program.
- The oral explanation should be given at initial application, redetermination (REDE), and whenever contact is made with a SNAP household that asks about the program and/or whose members need assistance in obtaining educational or work and training skills to become employable. An oral explanation should be provided even if there is not an in-person interview or contact in the office.
Who Can Volunteer?
- All SNAP customers who are not receiving TANF Cash can volunteer to participate in SNAP E&T. Participation in the program is not a mandatory requirement. It does not matter if a SNAP recipient is exempt or nonexempt from Work Provisions and the Work Requirement, participation in the program is a customer's choice.
- The worker must determine if the volunteer is suitable to participate in the program. The volunteer must have the ability to comprehend and perform all requirements of their chosen activity component(s) and may be reassigned if not progressing. A volunteer cannot be sanctioned if they are removed from the program or if they later decide to drop out of the program.
Customer Assessment
- FCRC workers should complete the assessment, Form IL444-5179, SNAP Employment and Training Referral Assessment (Referrals from FCRC to the Office of Workforce Development), with the volunteer's input. It is not mandatory for the worker to have Form IL444-5179 completed in its entirety. At a minimum, the worker must ensure that Page 1 is completed, and the form is signed by both the volunteer and worker on Page 4 before sending to the Office of Workforce Development. Completing all sections of Page 1 is important because the information gathered is used to determine the appropriate SNAP E&T Provider and other services that the volunteer may need. The signature is important because it gives consent to send the referral.
- The worker should explain to the volunteer, that once the referral is received, the Office of Work Force Development or a SNAP E&T Provider will follow-up with their participation in the SNAP E&T Program within 30 calendar days. Completing the referral does not stop the ABAWD Time-Limited Clock. The customer must be actively participating in a SNAP E&T component or meeting the requirement by working or volunteering in community service for the required number of hours to have the clock stopped and a month not be considered as unmet.
- The worker should email the completed Form IL444-5179 to the Office of Workforce Development through the respective email address below. Enter in the subject line of the email: SNAP E&T Referral and the case number. Do not include a customer's name in the email. Also indicate in the email if the volunteer has a specific Provider they would like to work with. Document in Case Comments which member in the SNAP household volunteered and the completion of the referral.
Completing the Assessment
- If the SNAP interview is conducted via phone and the volunteer is available to complete the assessment, complete Form IL444-5179 and obtain verbal permission from the volunteer to submit the referral. On Page 4, in the customer's signature line, write "customer verbal consent via phone". The worker also signs on Page 4.
- If the volunteer is not available when the in-person or phone interview is held, give Form IL444-5179 with Form IL44-0267 Verification Checklist to the applicant, or mail to the SNAP household, whichever is applicable. Request Form IL444-5179 be returned within 10 calendar days.
- If not returned, document in Case Comments that Form IL444-5179 was given to the SNAP household or mailed and was not returned. Do not take a negative action against the SNAP household's benefits if the form is not returned for this voluntary program; or
- If Form IL444-5179 is returned incomplete and/or without a signature, make two attempts to contact the SNAP household via phone to obtain verbal permission from the volunteer to finish completion of the form and to submit the referral. If contact is made, complete at a minimum Page 1, write "customer verbal consent via phone" in the customer's signature line on Page 4. The worker also signs on Page 4; or
- If the SNAP household cannot be reached after two phone call attempts and a message cannot be left, or there is no response to the message, file the referral in the Electronic Case Record (ECR). Document in Case Comments that the form was incomplete and/or not signed. No further action is needed by the FCRC.
IES Nonfinancial-Questions Screen
| IES Questions |
Worker Action |
|
TANF & SNAP Work Rules: TANF Work & Training, SNAP Work Provisions and SNAP Work Requirements.
Is anyone in the household subject to the work rules (TANF Work & Training/SNAP Work Provisions or Requirements)?
|
- Answer YES, if at least one member in the SNAP household is not exempt from the Work Provisions and the Work Requirement.
- Answer NO, if all members in the SNAP household are exempt from the Work Provisions and Work Requirement.
Note: The entire state continues to be waived from the SNAP Work Requirement time-limited benefits policy through October 31, 2024. Since the policy is not in effect, a customer is not subject to meeting the requirement and is not limited to 3-months of SNAP benefits. However, workers must still screen customers for an exemption and apply that exemption in IES. This information is needed for the Office of Workforce Development reports that are sent to Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Because the entire State is waived, the Work Requirement exemption given to the customer will not display on the IES EDG Summary Screen. The EDGE Summary Screen will display Waived County. |
| Would you like to review the SNAP Work Requirements Screen? |
Answer YES |
| Would you like to review the ABAWD Time Limited Clock Screen (SNAP)? |
Answer NO, for all SNAP customers. All counties in the entire State are waived from implementing the Work Requirement time limited benefits policy through October 31, 2024. |
| Would you like to review the SNAP Employment and Training Screen? |
Answer YES, regardless of whether a customer volunteers or not. Explain the program and discuss any barriers that would prevent this person from being a suitable participant in the program, even with the help of supportive services.
SNAP E&T Screen Displays:
- Name: Select the SNAP individual's name.
- Individual #: (read-only).
- When SNAP Employment & Training was discussed with the individual, was the individual determined to be suitable for SNAP Employment and Training?
- Select YES, if the individual is suitable for participation even if they are not currently volunteering. This helps the Office of Workforce Development identify suitable individuals for the program in IES who may later decide to participate.
- Select NO, if the individual is not suitable even if not volunteering.
- Individual participating in a SNAP Employment and Training Program?
- Select YES, if the individual volunteers.
- Select NO, if the individual does not volunteer at the time of the interview.
- E&T Activity Review Month: Worker enters the date SNAP E&T was reviewed with the customer.
- Click the Add Button to record the information entered above. Failure to click Add will not record the information.
Entry of Component
- FCRC workers do not enter the SNAP E&T activity component information in IES. The fields are disabled, and a message displays "Specific E&T activities are tracked through the Illinois SNAP Employment and Training System (ISETS)" in the Individual Information section of the screen.
- The Office of Workforce Development will complete the final evaluation of the customer's education, work history and determine the appropriate component(s) in the SNAP E&T Program.
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Provider Determination
- A Provider Determination is when a SNAP E&T Provider determines a referred or active customer is not appropriate for their program. The Provider notifies the Office of Workforce Development within 10 calendar days from the date the determination is made. The Office of Workforce Development will review and determine if the volunteer is suitable for any other Provider. If not, the Office of Workforce Development will notify the FCRC within 10 calendar days from the date the determination is made that the volunteer is not suitable for the program and to send SNAP Employment Training (SNAP E&T) Program Provider Determination Notice (Form IL444-4974).
- If a referral is sent in ISETS and the Provider determines that the volunteer is not suitable, the Provider may reject the referral in the system. The Provider should also send a justification or reasoning statement included with the rejection to the Office of Workforce Development.
- A Provider Determination may occur after the acceptance of a referral or after working with a volunteer, it is discovered that the customer can't appropriately be served. The Provider will notify their Provider Manager within 10 calendar days from the date the determination is made. After notifying their Provider Manager and submitting a brief explanation or statement of reasoning, the customer may be exited from the Provider's program in ISETS.
- Once the Provider has notified the Provider Manager, the Provider Manager and the Office of Workforce Development will review to see if the volunteer is suitable for a different Provider. If the customer is determined not suitable, the Office of Workforce Development will notify the FCRC within 10 working days that the customer is no longer fit to participate in SNAP E&T with their current Provider. If suitable for different Provider, the FCRC must complete a new referral with the customer input, signature and verbal consent to send to the Office of Workforce Development. .
- Within 10 calendar days of being notified by the Office of Workforce Development, the FCRC will send SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program Provider Determination Notice (Form IL444-4974) to inform the volunteer that they are no longer fit to participate with their current Provider and if they wish to continue their participation in SNAP E&T they must contact their FCRC to request a new referral. When the SNAP Work Requirement is in effect, this notification will also inform the customer how this determination may affect a customer's time limited benefits. If the customer is not suitable for any program in SNAP E&T, then they must find another way to meet the work requirement, such as performing community service for 20 hours per week (80 hours monthly), unless an exemption can be met. The FCRC is responsible for assisting the customer in finding an approved community service Provider.
Provider Reverse Referral
A reverse referral occurs when a customer goes directly to the SNAP E&T Provider on their own. A reverse referral can be done for any SNAP customer who wants to participate in SNAP E&T and is not receiving TANF Cash.
- SNAP E&T Provider:
- Sends SNAP Employment and Training Referral (Form IL444-4970) to the Office of Workforce Development as notification of a customer seeking services and to verify if the customer is an eligible SNAP recipient.
- Office of Workforce Development:
- Notifies the SNAP E&T Provider that the customer is an eligible SNAP recipient via SNAP Employment and Training Change Report (Form IL444-4971).
- Verify SNAP eligibility.
- Verify on the SNAP E&T screen in IES that the FCRC determined the customer is fit to participate in SNAP E&T.
Work Experience Components/Work Based Learning
An update has been made to PM 21-06-07 to add Work Based Learning. This component must include sustained interactions with industry or community professionals in a real-world setting, or simulated environments; foster in-depth, firsthand engagement with tasks required in a given career field, that are aligned to curriculum and instruction; include specific training objectives to be attained; emphasize employer engagement and lead to regular employment. This information must be able to be tracked and a description provided.
Form Changes
- SNAP Employment and Training Referral Form (Form IL444-4970) is being revised. Form IL444-4970 is used to communicate information between the SNAP E&T Provider and Office of Workforce Development. Form IL444-4970 should not be used by FCRC staff.
- Form IL444-5179, SNAP Employment and Training Referral Assessment is revised. The worker uses this form to make referrals from the FCRC to the Office of Workforce Development.
- New Form IL444-4974, SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) Program Provider Determination Notice has been created and will be used by the FCRC to notify a volunteer of the Provider's determination of being unsuitable for the program or the activity component.
- Form IL444-2839, The SNAP Employment and Training Employability Plan is being revised.
- Form IL444-2610, SNAP Monthly Report, is currently being revised to use for Community Service participation. Community Work Verification Form IL444-3674 and Form IL444-3675 are obsolete as of November 2022. Community Service is not a SNAP E&T component and does not qualify for supportive service payments. Customers who volunteer for Community Service should not be referred to the Office of Workforce Development. The FCRC may use SNAP Activity Report (Form IL444-2610) when the Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits is in effect to verify the work hours at the start of when a customer volunteers with an approved Community Service Provider. The hours are not verified monthly. The customer is responsible for reporting changes in their participation and work hours during the certification period.
SNAP Work Requirement Foster Care Exemption
This manual release also clarifies that the policy published in MR #24.07 Former Foster Care Update, dated 03/19/2024 is for medical programs and is unrelated to the SNAP Work Requirement exemption allowed for individuals who are age 24 and younger and were in foster care at the time of their 18th birthday. Policy for this exemption was published in MR #23.35: Change in Age Requirement and New Modified Exceptions (Exemptions) from SNAP Work Requirement Time, dated 12/18/2023.
Manual Revision
[signed copy on file]
Dulce M. Quintero
Secretary-Designate, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms referenced:
IL444-2610
IL444-3674
IL444-3675
IL444-4970
IL444-4971
IL444-4974
IL444-5179
