3240 Strikers | SNAP

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
SNAP Policy Manual

Policy Title:

Strikers

Effective Date:

September 2019

Chapter:

3200

Policy Number:

3240

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT-3

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-55

Requirements

An individual involved in a strike or planned stoppage of work is subject to special considerations in the determination of eligibility for benefits.

Basic Considerations

Assistance units (AU) which include strikers are eligible to participate in the FS program if they were entitled to or could have been entitled to benefits the day before the strike and are otherwise eligible at the time of application. Pre-strike eligibility is considered by determining the AU’s eligibility for benefits as if it were the day prior to the strike.

AUs with strikers must meet the same work registration requirements as any other AU. Ongoing AUs are not eligible for an increased allotment because of a decrease in income caused by the strike.

Individuals Not Considered Strikers

The following individuals are not considered to be strikers:

employees affected by lockout
employees unable to work because of striking employees
employees not part of the bargaining unit who do not want to cross the picket line because of fear of personal injury
employees who have resigned, been laid off, fired, furloughed or permanently replaced while on strike
employees not allowed to return to old jobs but offered different jobs
self-employed individuals
employees who go on strike but would have been exempt from work registration requirements, other than employment, on the day before the strike started. Example, a caretaker of a 3-year-old child who was working full time.

All other reported changes in circumstances, in addition to the strike, must be included when determining eligibility and the benefit level of the AU.

Procedures

Follow the steps in Chart 3240.1 for a Food Stamp AU which contains an individual who meets the definition of striker.

Chart 3240.1 - Food Stamp Treatment of Strikers

AT APPLICATION

FOR ONGOING CASES

Step 1	Consider the AU’s situation on the day prior to the strike and assume the strike did not occur. If the AU would have been ineligible, deny the application.
Step 2	Compare the striker’s income the day before the strike to the striker’s current income.
Step 3	Add the higher of the two incomes to the current income of the other AU members.
Step 4	If gross countable income is equal to or less than the GIC, proceed to Step 5. Deny the application if the gross countable income exceeds the GIC.
Step 5	Calculate deductions as for any other AU.
Step 6	If net income is equal to or less than the net income test, determine the benefit level based on the appropriate budgeting criteria. Deny the application if the net income exceeds the net income test.
Step 7	Assign periods of eligibility as any other AU.

Step 1	Compare the striker’s income the day before the strike to the striker’s current income.
Step 2	Add the higher of the two incomes to the current income of the other AU members.
Step 3	If gross countable income is equal to or less than the GIC, proceed to Step 4.
Step 4	Calculate deductions for the month of the strike as for any other AU.
Step 5	If the net income is equal to or less than the net income test, determine the benefit level based on the appropriate budgeting criteria. Terminate benefits if the net income exceeds the net income test, allowing timely notice.