SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT& TRAINING New Direction 2016

Objectives Overview of SNAP ProgramSNAP E&T Program Referral ProcessAble Bodied Adults Without DependentsJanuary 1, 2016 – Program ChangesImplementing Program Changes 2

Authority USDA and FNS DCF DEO 3

All activities are stand- alone No sanctions for non compliance Participation not required Voluntary SNAP 4

Voluntary vs. Mandatory Voluntary  Any individual receiving food assistance and not engaged in the WT program  Ages – Receive Notice of Voluntary Participation (NOVP)  Participation not required Mandatory  Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) receiving food assistance  Ages – Receive Notice of Mandatory Participation (NOMP)  Participation required 5

Voluntary vs. Mandatory Voluntary  No time limits on food assistance  No sanctions for non compliance  All activities are stand-alone Mandatory  Time limits on food assistance  Sanctions for non compliance  Stand-alone activities limited 6

Roles and Responsibilities in Mandatory SNAP DCF Eligibility Refer ABAWDs Exempt ABAWDs Sanction ABAWDs 7

Roles and Responsibilities in Mandatory SNAP DEO Training Technical Assistance Program guidance Statewide Monitoring 8

Roles and Responsibilities in Mandatory SNAP LWDAs Engage ABAWDs Request a sanction Request lifting a sanction 9

DCF Responsibilities Eligibility Referral Exemptions NOAA Impose Impose Sanctions Lift Sanctions 10

DEO responsibilities NOMPTechnical assistanceStatewide monitoring 11

LWDA Roles 12

What is changing? 13

ABAWDs losing food assistance benefits Work requirements Who is an ABAWD? Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents Age Age Not working at least 30 hours a week Not earning weekly wages of at least $ a week Not in school at least half-time No documented medical limitation 14

Under 18 or over 50 Documented medically unable to work Disability Benefits A parent for a dependent under the age of 18 Exemptions 15

How is the ABAWD notified to participate? Notification Referral from Department of Children and Families (DCF) Notice of Mandatory Participation (NOMP) 599 Letter 16

ABAWD Responsibility 17

ABAWD Responsibility 18

Participate in 20 hours per week (80 hrs/month) in a WIOA program, a TAA program, or an Education and Training program, or Work 20 hours per week (80 hrs/month), or Comply with a Workfare program (i.e., Work Experience), or Combination of above Maintaining Eligibility 19

Job Search Job Search Training ABAWB Allowable Activities 20

Work Experience(WE) Job Search/WE Job Search Training/WE Work Experience/ Education Work Experience combined with training Work Experience combined with WIOA/TAA 21

Self-Initiated Work Experience(SIWE) Job Search/SIWEJob Search training/SIWESIWE/EducationSIWE combined with Training SIWE combined with TAA activities 22

Education &Training Adult Basic Education(ABE) Remedial Education High School Completion or General Education Development (GED) Post-secondary Education Education combined with Job Search Education combined with Job Search Training English for Speakers of Other Languages(ESOL ) 23

Education & Training Vocational Training Training combined with Job Search Training combined with Job Search Training Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Trade Adjustment Assistance 24

Food Stamp Reimbursements(FSRs) 25

Failure to attend orientation Failure to turn in requested documentation Failure to keep an appointment Failure to participate in an assigned activity Examples of non compliance 26

What happens if the ABAWD doesn’t comply ? LWDAs notify DCF Notice of Adverse Action (NOAA) DCF outlines number of days to comply Good Cause Impose sanction 27

Good Cause Reasons 28

End conciliationDo not request a sanctionEnter a case note in OSST Place ABAWD immediately in an allowable activity Good Cause Accepted 29

Time to Sanction 30

Time to Sanction Level 1 Ineligible for one month, or until compliance, whichever is longer Level 2 Ineligible for three months, or until compliance, whichever is longer Level 3 Ineligible for six months, or until compliance, whichever is longer 31

Determining Penalty Levels 32

Program Goals 33

For questions, comments, or concerns, please contact the SNAP team Questions 34