Policy/Form                                                            Issuance Number: FSC 03-03

Food Stamp Certification Manual                     Issuance Date: 02/01/03

From: Joni Jones, Director                                    Expiration Date: Until Superseded

Subj:  Food Stamp Employment and Training (E & T) Program

Under a plan approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) has contracted with the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education (DWE) to administer a Food Stamp E&T Program in the following counties:

1. Benton
2. Cleburne
3. Craighead
4. Crawford
5. Crittenden
6. Drew
7. Faulkner
8. Garland
9. Grant
10. Hempstead
11. Independence
12. Jefferson
13. Lee
14. Miller
15. Mississippi
16. Pope
17. Pulaski
18. St. Francis
19. Union
20. Washington
21. White

1. General Description

The Food Stamp E&T Program will be operated by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education (DWE) in local adult education centers and vocational-technical schools. Participation in the Food Stamp E&T Program is voluntary. No individual will be penalized for failure or refusal to participate in the Food Stamp E&T Program.

B. Program Components

1. Independent Job Search – Participants will make a pre-determined number of inquiries to prospective employers over a specified period of time.

2. Job Search Training – Participants will undergo a job skills assessment. Resume development, interview coaching and job leads may be provided. Skills testing may be conducted. Participants may be provided employment counseling, motivational techniques, and effective job search method and instructions in a group setting. Participants may be assigned an employment counselor or case manager who works with the participant on a one-to-one basis to:

• Develop an employment and training plan
• Provide encouragement
• Assist in finding financial aid for education
• Manage referrals
• Monitor and report progress

3. Education – Participants may be enrolled in education programs or activities designed to help the participant:

• Improve basic skills including reading and math
• Acquire a high school diploma or GED
• Learn the English language.
• Gain occupational skills including but not limited to work keys and self-guided computer-assisted learning programs.

Participants may also be enrolled in short courses such as, but not limited to, certified nursing assistant training or post-secondary vocational training (limited to 12 months).

4. Work Experience or OJT– Participants participate in unpaid or subsidized work experience or on-the-job training to prepare themselves for unsubsidized employment.
5. Vocational Training – Vocational training at the post-secondary level may be available for participants who may benefit from such training.

A. Make Referrals

In counties where the E&T Program is operating, county office workers will refer to the local DWE office all food stamp recipients who are subject to the Requirement to Work (RTW). This includes all able-bodied, non-exempt individuals between the ages of 18 and 49.

The following individuals are exempt from the RTW:

1. Anyone age 17 or younger.
2. Anyone age 50 or older.
3. Anyone medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment. This includes any individual who:

• Meets the definition of disabled as provided in the Glossary, definition of Aged/Disabled.

• Receives services through Arkansas Rehabilitative Services.

• Receives Worker's Compensation or sick pay benefits.

• Receives a decision of disability from the Medical Review Team.
• Provides a statement from a physician or licensed, certified psychologist indicating the cause of the disability and anticipated duration of the disability.

1. Any natural, adoptive or step-parent of a minor dependent child age 17 or younger so long as the dependent child lives with the parent. If both parents are in the home, then both parents are exempt under this provision. This provision also applies to individuals who are exercising parental control over a child age 17 or younger in the absence of a parent. If a couple (e.g., grandmother and grandfather) both exercise parental control, both individuals are exempt under this provision.
2. Any pregnant woman - This exemption covers all trimesters of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is not obvious, verification may be requested from a medical professional such as a physician, a certified nurse midwife or an employee of the Health Department.
3. Anyone who is otherwise exempt from the Food Stamp Program work registration requirements. This includes:

• Anyone who is responsible for the care of a dependent child under the age of 6 or an incapacitated person of any age.

• Anyone who is receiving TEA cash assistance.

• Anyone who is currently receiving unemployment benefits or anyone who has applied for unemployment benefits but is not yet receiving them.

• Anyone who is participating in a drug addiction or alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation program on either an inpatient or outpatient basis.

• Anyone who is employed and either working a minimum of 30 hours weekly or receiving weekly earnings equivalent to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30.

• Any student age 18 or older who is attending a high school or an institution of post secondary education on at least a half-time basis or attending an institution of higher education on any basis.

NOTE: Any other household member who is subject to the Food Stamp Program work registration requirements may be referred to the E&T Program as a volunteer. For example, a mother or a father of minor children who is out of work may volunteer to participate in the E&T Program. There this individual will be offered assistance with finding a job or may be able to secure education or job skills training. The county office worker will offer to refer any work-registered food stamp participant who might benefit from participation in the E&T Program. There will be no penalty imposed if this individual refuses the referral or fails to participate in the E&T Program.

B. Referrals

A Food Stamp E&T Program Referral (DCO-205) will be completed on each individual subject to the RTW and on each volunteer. Referrals will occur at initial application or at recertification. Referrals will also be made at reported change or quarterly report if a household member has become subject to the requirement to work (RTW). Referrals will be made even if the county has been selected as a RTW "waiver county." (See FSC 3620). Referrals will also be made even if the individual has been granted an RTW personal exemption.

County office workers will use a Referral Form and Participation Record (DCO-205) to refer appropriate household members to the E&T Program A Notification of Work Registration (DCO-260) will be given to the household to serve as the registrant’s "notice" and to explain the E&T Program to the registrant. Referrals will be made using the DCO-205 and DCO-260 at application (initial and recertification), quarterly report and reported change.

The DCO-205 will be mailed to the DWE location for that county. See the attached list.

C. Notifying DWE of Changes

DWE will not be reimbursed costs incurred by an E&T Program participant who is no longer participating in the Food Stamp Program. Therefore, it is extremely important that DWE be notified when a food stamp case containing an E&T Program participant is closed or when an E&T Program participant is dropped from a Food Stamp Household. (This includes individuals whose status is changed from an eligible to an ineligible member due to disqualification, etc.) The worker will notify DWE of these changes on the Referral Form and Participation Record (DCO-205).

D. Authorizing Reimbursements

The only Food Stamp Program E&T expenditure that may be reimbursed directly to program participants is transportation. Each E&T participant will be eligible to receive reimbursement for transportation necessary to enable the individual to comply with required component activities. Reimbursement for transportation will be based on mileage of $.29 per mile or actual costs (e.g., for bus service or transportation provider) up to a maximum of $285.00 reimbursement per calendar month per participant.

(NOTE: This reimbursement will not be counted as income in the food stamp budget. See FSC 5411.)

Reimbursements will be authorized by the DHS county office worker through the WISE system based on reports provided by DWE. Each time a reimbursement is to be authorized, the worker must check the client's mailing address displayed on WISE to be sure it is the current/correct one. The WISE mailing address can be corrected from INPS if necessary but this needs to be done before a reimbursement check is authorized.

To key transportation for an E&T case, the county office worker must go to RSRP, key the SSN of the individual to receive the reimbursement and <Enter>. This should bring in the Participant Name, County, and Category.

Next, the worker must complete the following steps:

• Tab to Reason field and key T1.
• Tab to Mnth-Yr and key a numeric entry. (Example – Key January 2003 as 01-03.
• Tab to Reim Amount and key amount to be reimbursed.
• Tab to COMP and key NCA.
• Tab to WA Cat and key FS.
• Tab to Provider # and key the letter C.
• <Enter>.

After the first enter, the message "Press Enter To Update Screen" will appear. <Enter> again to process the payment. If everything processes OK, the message "Update Complete" will appear.

DWE operates Arkansas’ system of adult education centers, vocational schools and community colleges. Adult education centers, vocational schools and community colleges are partners in the state’s 10 full-service one stops.

DWE will report to the Division of County Operations (DCO) on a monthly basis about slots offered, slots filled, attendance, completion, job placement, etc. The original report will be forwarded to the Manager, Food Stamp Program, Slot S335. A copy of the report will be maintained in the county office files in chronological order – by year and month.

Inquiries to: Betty Helmbeck, Food Stamp Section, 501 682-8284