3360 E&T Participation Requirement

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
SNAP Policy Manual

Policy Title:

E&T Participation Requirement

Effective Date:

December 2023

Chapter:

3300

Policy Number:

3360

Previous Policy Number(s):

MT-73

Updated or Reviewed in MT:

MT-76

Requirements

SNAP Works Program eligible recipients may volunteer to participate in the SNAP Works Program.

Basic Considerations

The State designs and operates the SNAP E&T Program which may consist of one or more employment and training components. In Georgia, this program is called SNAP Works.

Participation Requirements

SNAP E&T Eligible individuals are food stamp recipients who may volunteer to participate in the SNAP Works Program. If the volunteer no longer wants to participate, no adverse action is taken.

SNAP Works Eligible Definition

SNAP Works eligible individuals must meet the three criteria below.

  • Receives SNAP assistance

  • Is fit for employment

  • Has opted to voluntarily enroll in the SNAP Works Program

AND

SNAP Works eligible individuals must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Can be exempt or a work registrant (either an ABAWD or mandatory registrant)

  • Can be pregnant

  • Can be underemployed or unemployed

  • Can be TANF Eligible, but is not Receiving TANF benefits

  • Can be a single parent

  • Can receive any type of unemployment compensation benefits

  • Can be a senior citizen

  • Can be homeless

  • Can be a veteran

  • Can be disabled, but fit for employment

  • Can be a returning citizen

  • Can be a refugee

  • Can be a student who is taking GED, Literacy or English Language preparation courses.

  • Can be a student attending one of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) locations and taking courses under a certificate, diploma, or associate degree program as identified in the State’s SNAP E&T Plan.

SNAP Works Eligible individuals are not:

  • receiving TANF

  • Students in higher learning such as a bachelor or master’s degree program

  • Deemed unfit for employment

Employment Services Specialist Responsibilities

The SNAP Works Program Employment Services Specialist (ES) has the following responsibilities:

  • Provides case management services for all participants.

    • Completes 360 progress reviews on participants after initial enrollment.

    • Connects the participant with referrals to community resource agencies.

    • Issue work support services within two workdays of review appointment, as needed for continued participation in program activities.

    • Assure that the actions taken on a participant’s employment services case are documented using the case note feature in Georgia Gateway.

    • Ensures that the provider administers the following employment services:

      • Conducts the participant orientation and assessments.

      • Develop the participant’s Individual Employment Plan in accordance with their desired training activity within 10 days of the referral receipt.

      • Arrange for participation in the assigned training activity.

      • Monitor and record the participant’s hours spent in activity monthly.

      • Arrange for or provide participant support services monthly.

      • Managing occurrences of non-participation in the SNAP Works Program by addressing challenges to participation.

      • Meets the standard of promptness as defined in the Provider’s contract.

    • Initiates and participates in monthly staffing meetings with providers and/or participants to discuss the participants' progress toward their Individual Employment Plan objective.

  • Records participant information in the Gateway system including the following:

    • assessment date;

    • orientation date;

    • Individual Employment Plan (IEP);

    • participation in activities;

    • participation hours;

    • support services payments;

    • non-participation;

    • case actions and remarks.

  • Notifies the eligibility worker via the eligibility system worker generated alert, email, or Communication Log entry of all cases involving the following activities:

    • employment within 5 workdays.

Reporting and Accuracy

The ES must screen the SNAP recipients referred to the SNAP Works Program to ensure accuracy of the referral. Only SNAP recipients who meet the SNAP Works Program eligible criteria can participate in the program. The ES reviews and uses alerts, system generated tasks, or SNAP Works reports to ensure the accuracy of reported data.

Closing Employment & Training Activities

Activities and components should be closed within 60 days following the disenrollment of a participant after determining good cause reasons for any nonparticipation and entering the final hours of participation in the activity.

Hours must cycle overnight prior to the ES case closure. Refer to Chart 3360.1 for the appropriate closure codes.
CHART 3360.1 - E&T CASE CLOSURES
IF THEN

Negative Completion Terms

Participant becomes exempt from SNAP E&T Program, such as becomes unfit to participate

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “Participant Illness, Incapacity”, or “Substance Abuse or Dependence”, or “Other.”

If “Other" is used, ES must add a case note to explain “Other.”

Participant food stamp case closes due to moved out of state

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “Moved Out of State.”

Participant fails to take part in ES appointment (initial or review) AND no good cause exists

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “withdrew.”

Participant withdraws from SNAP E&T Program

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “withdrew.”

Participant fails to complete job search or job retention AND no good cause exists

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “Other.”

ES must add a case note to explain “Other.”

Participant fails to complete education or training activity AND no good cause exists

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “withdrew.”

Participant is dismissed from provider or partner site and cannot be served by the E&T Program ongoing due to programmatic violations.

Enter “negative program completion” and reason “dismissed.”

This must be approved for use by the State Office E&T Director.

Positive Completion Terms

Participant completes job search and does not obtain employment

Enter “positive program completion” and reason “Attained Level.”

Participant completes job retention services

Enter “positive program completion” and reason “Attained Level.”

Participant completes basic education or vocational training and receives a certificate of completion.

Enter “positive program completion” and reason “Obtained 2 Year Degree” OR “Obtained GED” OR “Obtained High School Diploma” OR “Certificate/Diploma (VOC ED)”

Participant completes work experience and obtains employment.

Enter “positive program completion” and reason “Emp Full-Time (30 Hrs or More)” OR “Emp Part-Time (Less Than 30 Hrs)”