FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3800 - 3801 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - CONDITIONS OF

DATE: 7-1-88 EMPLOYMENT

3800Workfare

Workfare is a food stamp work registration component which requires certain non-exempt work registrants to perform public service activities as a condition for receiving food stamps. The primary goal of Workfare is to improve employability thereby enabling individuals to move into regular employment. Workfare is operated jointly by a state or political subdivision and Food nutrition Service of USDA. A political subdivision is any local government, including but not limited to, any county, city, town or parish. FNS must approve Workfare plans prior to implementation of the program.

Political subdivisions approved to operate Workfare are called Workfare Sponsors.

The Workfare Sponsor is responsible for interviewing and assessing eligible recipients, establishing job sites, assigning recipients to appropriate job sites, and making initial determinations of good cause or no good cause for failure to comply with workfare obligations. Workfare job sites may only be located in public or private, non-profit agencies. Contractual agreements must be established between the Workfare Sponsor and the job site.

3801Conditions of Workfare Employment

To provide sufficient protection against the displacement of regular workers by Workfare participants, and at the same time assure that all persons employed in Workfare jobs receive job-related benefits at the same levels and to the same extent as similar non-Workfare employees, the following rules will apply.

1.All persons employed in Workfare must receive job-related benefits to the same extent as similar non-Workfare employees.

NOTE: Workmen's Compensation is not a mandated benefit in Arkansas.

2.Any such benefit requiring a cash contribution by the participant will be optional to the participant.

3.Workfare participants must be provided the same working conditions as other similarly employed.

4.Health and safety conditions must conform with Sec. 2(a) (3) of the Service Contract Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-286).

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3801 - 3810 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - WHO IS SUBJECT TO

DATE: 7-1-88 WORKFARE

Workfare participants will not be assigned work which has the effect of replacing or preventing the employment of an individual not participating in Workfare. This means that vacancies due to hiring freezes, terminations, or lay-offs, will not be filled by a Workfare participant unless it can be demonstrated that such vacancies are a result of insufficient funds to sustain former staff levels.

Workfare jobs will not be related in any way to political or partisan activities. This means that although Workfare participants may be assigned to work for an elected official, they may not engage in work that could be construed as political, such as campaign work.

Workfare assignments will take into consideration previous training, experience and skills of participants. This information shall be obtained from the participant during the initial interview with workfare administrator.

3810Who is Subject To Workfare

The caseworker will determine at certification, recertification or submission of a completed monthly report which household members are required to participate in the Workfare Program.

Certain household members who are not exempt from the work registration requirements in FSC 3300 are subject to Workfare. A brief description of these exemptions appears in the chart on the following page (FSC 3810.1).

Recipients of unemployment benefits are not exempt from Workfare requirements. However, the Workfare Office will modify the work schedule of a recipient who has a scheduled job interview that conflicts with the Workfare schedule. It is the registrant's responsibility to notify the Workfare Office of schedule conflicts. The Workfare administrator will consider that the registrant had good cause for those hours that cannot be worked in a month due to such conflicts.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3811 - 3811 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - EXEMPTIONS

DATE: 12-1-90

Exemptions From Workfare

Description of Exemption Exemption Code Policy Reference

Individuals under the age of 16 or age 60 or older. 4A (60 or older) FSC 3210

4R (under 16)

Individuals age 16 or 17 who are living with a parent or 4S FSC 3220

who are enrolled in school.

Individuals age 18 or older who are enrolled in a high 4T FSC 3290

school or an institution of post secondary education

on at least a half-time basis.

Individuals who are physically or mentally unfit. 4D FSC 3230

(Workfare eligibles who are pregnant or who have partial

disabilities will be referred; however, the Workfare

Sponsor must be made aware of the pregnancy or

disability via the EMS-207 so an appropriate work

assignment can be made.)

Individuals who care for a dependent child under the age 4P FSC 3240

of six or any incapacitated household member.

Individuals who are involved for 20 hours or more per 4W FSC 3250

week in AFDC JOBS. (Individuals participating

in JOBS less than 20 hours per week are subject

to Workfare. However, JOBS participation takes

precedence over Workfare. If Workfare participation is

affected by JOBS participation, the individual

will be considered to have good cause as explained in

FSC 3853.)

Individuals who are participating in a drug or 4G FSC 3270

alcoholism treatment program.

Individuals who are employed or self-employed on a full- 4E FSC 3280

time basis. Full time employment or self-employment

defined as working a minimum of 30 hours weekly or

receiving weekly earnings equivalent to the federal

minimum wage X 30.

Note:The exemption codes in order of priority are 4A, 4R, 4D, 4W, 4P, 4G, 4E, or 4T. When an individual qualifies for more than one exemption, the exemption code with the highest priority will be used.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3820 - 3830 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - DETERMINING

DATE: 12-1-90 OBLIGATION

3820Determining Workfare Obligation

Normally, a household's Workfare obligation begins when the food stamp caseworker determines that a certified household contains a member who is subject to the Workfare requirement. This obligation ends when all household members become exempt or when the household moves from the county, or when the food stamp case is closed for any reason. A household is considered to have good cause for not completing any remaining hours of obligation after its case is closed.

Only one member per household will be required to participate in Workfare at a given time. However, in households having more than one member subject to Workfare, another household member who is workfare eligible may fulfill the Workfare obligation if the original designee does not. (See FSC 3850.) The Workfare office, which is informed of all Workfare eligible household members via the referral form, should report a change in designees to the local food stamp office. However, it is not necessary that the food stamp office be notified prior to the work obligation being completed by another eligible designee.

The household's obligation of work hours each month will be calculated by dividing the household's authorized food stamp allotment (before recoupment) by the federal minimum wage. Fractions are rounded down.

A recipient may be required to work no more than 30 hours per week. This maximum may be exceeded only with the recipient's consent, and provided that the recipient is informed in writing that such work is purely voluntary on his/her part, and no monetary compensation or other benefits for such work should be expected. However, the total weekly average for the month must not exceed 30 hours per week. Recipients working for compensation either full or part time or recipients participating in Project SUCCESS may not be required to exceed 30 hours of work each week including the Project SUCCESS Program activities. No participant may be required to work more than 8 hours per day except with his/her consent.

The household's hours of obligation for any given month will not be carried over into another month except when the household wishes to end a disqualification due to non-compliance with Workfare as explained in FSC 3850.

3830Referral of Workfare Eligibles

The Food Stamp Office (county office) determines Workfare eligibles and makes referrals. Since Workfare is an addition to the work registration requirements, the caseworker will determine at certification, or recertification which household members are subject to work registration (See FSC 3300). Once these persons are identified, the caseworker will take the actions listed below.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3830 - 3830 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - REFERRAL

DATE: 12-1-90

1.Complete work registration via the EMS-220 or EMS-260 as necessary. See FSC 3310-3320.

2.Determine if a household member is subject to Workfare using the criteria in FSC 3810. If more than one member is subject to Workfare, the household must designate the member who will be responsible for the Workfare obligation. This member, who is the prime designee, does not have to be interviewed in the county office; however, when the household makes a change in designee, the county office should be notified.

3.Complete Form EMS-207 in accordance with instructions on the form. Calculate the hours of obligation in accordance with FSC 3820. This will be done at certification, re-certification or submission of a change form when the reported change will affect the amount of the food stamp allotment and the Workfare obligation. The EMS-207 will be routed to the Workfare Office within five days of the date of allotment determination.

4.Establish a job search period of 10 days. The job search period must follow certification and must end before the Workfare assignment is made. Job search periods are only established when an individual is referred to Workfare for the first time or when an individual is re-referred following a period of non-participation in Workfare - e.g., establish a job search period at application but not at recertification.

5.Prepare an EMS-208, Notification of Workfare Obligation. Issue a copy to the prime designee as official notification of his Workfare obligation.

6.Advise the household of the responsibilities listed below.

.The participant is expected to look for a job if a job search period is established.

.The participant must report to scheduled appointments and participate in Workfare activities as directed by the Workfare Sponsor.

.The participant must advise the Workfare Sponsor's office in advance if he is unable to keep scheduled appointments due to unavoidable circumstances such as illness, household emergency, etc.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3830 -3840 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - REFERRAL

DATE: 12-1-90

These responsibilities are explained on the EMS-208.

7.Inform the household of the effect of any changes on its Workfare obligation.

See FSC 11200 for an explanation of the changes which must be reported.

8.Advise the Workfare Sponsor within 5 days of the day a change was processed and how this change will affect a household's workfare obligation. This also includes changes in prime designee, head of household and case closures.

9.When the Workfare Sponsor reports that a participant has obtained employment, provide the following information to the Workfare Sponsor upon request:

a)The amount of the old food stamp allotment; and

b)The amount the new food stamp allotment.

The information will be used by the Workfare Sponsor to calculate the amount of enhanced reimbursement as instructed in FSC 3880.

10.Make final determination on good cause requests as explained in FSC 3853.

11.Act on reports of non-compliance as described in FSC 3850-3856.

3840Workfare Sponsor Responsibilities

FSC 3800-3801 gives a general explanation of the Workfare Sponsor's responsibilities for administering the Workfare Program.

Specific Workfare Sponsor responsibilities and the policy section in which they are explained are listed below:

.Assigning participants ..............................FSC 3841

.Monitoring the program ..............................FSC 3842

.Making reports ......................................FSC 3842

.Reporting non-compliance ............................FSC 3851

.Determining good cause ..............................FSC 3853

.Reestablishing eligibility after sanction ...........FSC 3856

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3841 - 3841 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - SPONSOR'S

DATE: 12-1-90 RESPONSIBILITIES

3841Beginning Workfare Participating

The Workfare sponsor will be notified on Form EMS-207, Workfare

Transmittal, of the household's Workfare obligation.

An interview will be scheduled by the Workfare Sponsor with the prime designee to obtain information regarding the training, experience and skills of the designee. These factors will be taken into account when the designee is assigned to a job site.

The Workfare sponsor will notify the prime designee of where and when to report to the Workfare site. Additionally, the prime designee must be given:

1.The name of the person to whom the designee is to report;

2.A description of the duties for the worksite; and

3.A statement of the number of hours to be worked each month.

Participants must be reimbursed (not to exceed $25 per month) for transportation, child care, and other costs that are reasonable, necessary and directly related to Workfare. This includes costs of personal safety items or equipment required for performances of the work if also purchased by regular employees. Reimbursements for transportation may include, but are not limited to, use of participant's private vehicle, and public transportation provided cost per month does not exceed $25.

Participants who fail to report to scheduled interviews or to assigned job sites or who otherwise fail to comply with proper instructions from the Workfare sponsor will be advised by letter to contact the Workfare Sponsor to make arrangements to complete their obligations.

If a participant fails or refuses to comply with the Workfare requirements, the Workfare Sponsor will make a tentative assessment of good cause as explained in FSC 3853.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3842 - 3843 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - MONITORING AND

DATE: 7-1-88 REPORTING

3842Monitoring and Reporting

The Workfare sponsor will monitor participation and provide supervision as needed to participants placed on each job site.

1.The Workfare Sponsor must maintain records of its monitoring activity. The records must include:

a)The date of each monitoring visit and the name of the job site visited;

b)Any discrepancies discovered through monitoring;

c)The corrective action prescribed; and

d)The results of follow-up monitoring to insure corrective action was implemented.

Each job site will be provided with a copy of its monitoring report.

2.The Workfare Sponsor must maintain verification of:

a)Direct reimbursement to participants; and

b)Travel claimed by the Workfare Coordinator/transportation director as a reimbursement for job related costs.

3.The Workfare Sponsor must report to the local food stamp office on a monthly basis the following information:

a)The number of households referred for Workfare;

b)The number of households assigned to job sites;

c)The number of individuals assigned to job sites; and

d)The total number of hours worked by all participants.

(This information is used by the local food stamp office to complete the EMS-210, Quarterly Report. (It will no longer be necessary for the food stamp office to maintain a log.)

3843Optional Grievance Procedures

The Workfare Sponsor has the discretion to establish a grievance procedure system to handle complaints filed by participants regarding their working conditions or any other complaint not related to their Workfare participation - e.g. job duties assigned.

This procedure need not handle complaints that can be pursued through a fair hearing as explained in FSC 3860, nor may choosing not to use it preclude the participant from requesting a fair hearing. If established, a description of the system must be included in the Workfare plan, and Workfare participants must be informed of the grievance procedure.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3850 - 3850 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - GOOD CAUSE

DATE: 7-1-88 FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

3850Sanctions For Non-Compliance With Workfare

A two month disqualification will be imposed when the prime designee or any other workfare eligible in the household, fails or refuses, without good cause to comply with Workfare requirements.

The two month disqualification will apply to the entire household.

The disqualification period will begin with the first month following the expiration of the notice of adverse action or the first month following a fair hearing decision if a hearing is requested by the household.

The sanction will be imposed for the two consecutive months following the expiration of the notice of action (or hearing decision) even if the household is in its last month of certification and has not been recertified. If the non-compliance occurs in the last month of certification and is not reported until after the case expires, the sanction will still be imposed for the two months following the month in which the case expired. (A notice will be sent advising the household that these two months will be months of sanction unless good cause is established.) This is true even if the household does not submit an application during the sanction period.

Should a household have 2 or more months of non-compliance, the total months of sanction will be a cumulative total, e.g., 2 months of non-compliance will result in a 4 month sanction.

If a non-compliant household splits, the sanction will follow all the Workfare eligible members, and no Workfare eligible member will be allowed to receive food stamps for the length of the sanction or until he becomes exempt from the Workfare requirements.

EXAMPLE:A household consist of a husband, wife and two children. Both husband and wife are Workfare eligibles. The wife is the prime designee. The household splits with each taking one child. In this situation, disqualification will apply to both husband and wife.

Should a sanctioned Workfare eligible household member join another food stamp household, his income and resources will count in its entirety, but the disqualified individual will not be included when determining household size.

NOTE:Sanctions cannot be applied when there is no way to cure the sanction. Therefore, when disqualified members move into a household in a non-Workfare county, these sanctions will not be applied and if the individual is otherwise eligible, he may be added to the new household.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3850 - 3852 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - GOOD CAUSE

DATE: 7-1-88 FOR NON-COMPLIANCE

EXAMPLE:A husband and wife are both Workfare eligible. Neither one works off a household's hours of obligation. The household is sanctioned and subsequently the husband and wife separate. Each takes one of their minor children and moves in with another food stamp household. Neither the husband or wife may be added to these households until the period of sanction is over. However, the children may be added as eligible members immediately.

3851Imposing a Sanction For Workfare Non-Compliance

The Workfare Administrator must inform the county office within five (5) days via form EMS-209 when a workfare eligible fails to comply with the Workfare Program.

A sanction will not be imposed when non-compliance occurs because:

.The prime designee has obtained full-time employment, or

.The household has moved out of the county; or

.The case is closed.

Upon receipt of an EMS-209 from Workfare reporting non-compliance, the caseworker will complete the following steps.

Step 1Using the EMS 209 submitted by the Workfare Sponsor, determine if the member had good cause for failure to comply. If yes, document the good cause in case record and take no additional action. No sanction will be applied. If no, go to Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2Issue a Notice of Adverse Action in accordance with FSC 3854.

Step 3 Notify the Workfare Administrator via the EMS-209 that a Notice of Adverse Action on the sanction has been issued.

3852Good Cause For Workfare Non-Compliance

A Workfare participant is considered to have administrative good cause for failing to complete his workfare obligation in a particular month in the following situations.

.The participant is not yet available for scheduling due to the job search requirement cited in FSC 3830.

.The referral was received too late to schedule an interview for the current month.

.The participant never received an interview and/or work notice.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3852 - 3852 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - GOOD CAUSE FOR

DATE: 7-1-88 NON-COMPLIANCE

.The participant was interviewed too late in the month to be scheduled to work in the same month.

.The requirement is for too few hours to schedule.

.The household is currently under sanction.

.An administrative error resulted in the non-compliance.

.When a worksite is not available.

A participant is also considered to have good cause for failure to complete a workfare obligation in the following situations.

.When the participant is ill.

NOTE:Workfare eligibles who are pregnant or who have partial disabilities are referred to Workfare Sponsors; however, the Workfare Sponsor must be made aware of the pregnancy or partial disability via the EMS-207. The work assignment should be appropriate for the person's condition. If there are no appropriate assignments, this will be considered good cause for not completing the Workfare obligation.

If a participant develops a disabling condition which is obvious (e.g. - broken leg), the sponsor may grant probable good cause and document the reason on the EMS-209. If the disabling condition is not obvious, the determination of good cause will be the responsibility of the food stamp worker who must obtain a doctor's statement as explained in FSC 3230.

.When the illness or incapacitation of another household requires the presence of the Workfare participant.

.When a household emergency requires the presence of the participant.

.When the participant has no transportation and transportation is not provided by the Workfare Sponsor.

.When the participant lacks adequate child care for children who have reached the age of six but are under the age of 12.

.When the costs of transportation and other costs have exceeded $25 per month and the excess amounts are not re-imbursed by the Workfare Sponsor.

.When there is no longer a Workfare eligible in the home.

.When the participant's obligation to the Work Program has prevented the completion of the Workfare obligation.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3852 - 3853 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - DETERMINING

DATE: 7-1-88 GOOD CAUSE

.When the participant's obligation to ESD (for UI recipients or applicants) have prevented the completion of the Workfare obligation.

.When the Workfare Sponsor notifies the county of the non-compliance more than 15 days following the date on which the non-compliance occurred.

3853Determining Good Cause

Good cause is determined by either the Workfare sponsor or the food stamp worker on a monthly basis. The Workfare sponsor may grant administrative good cause to a household without notifying the county via EMS-209. (See FSC 3852 for a definition of administrative good cause.)

The Workfare sponsor may also tentatively grant good cause to a participant if the participant contacts the Workfare Sponsor to report that he will not be able to complete his obligation. In these instances the Workfare Sponsor will report the non-compliance and tentative granting of good cause or no good cause via the EMS-209. The EMS-209 will be reviewed by the food stamp worker for a final good cause determination. Good cause will automatically be granted by the caseworker if the notification of non-compliance is received more than 15 days following the date of non-compliance.

If the food stamp caseworker determines that the participant had good cause for the non-compliance, the EMS-209 will be completed to reflect this decision and will be returned to the Workfare Sponsor. No additional action will be required.

If the caseworker determines that the participant did not have good cause, a notice of adverse action will be sent to the household. See FSC 3854 for instructions.

When the Workfare Sponsor is unable to tentatively determine good cause or no good cause due to lack of information or conflicting information, the non-compliance will also be reported by EMS-209.

When a EMS-209 indicating possible good cause or no good cause is received, the food stamp caseworker must review the case record to determine if good cause can be established - e.g. has the household reported that all Workfare eligibles have left the home? Is the only workfare eligible now employed more than 30 hours per week?

If good cause cannot be established through a review of the case record, the household must be issued an advance notice of adverse action. The notice must contain the information specified in FSC 3854.

When the Workfare Sponsor receives a report that a Workfare participant is employed, this information must be reported to the Food Stamp Office via the EMS-209. If the name of the employer is known, this information

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3853 - 3854 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - NOTICE OF

DATE: 7-1-88 ADVERSE ACTION

will be included on the EMS-209. Within 10 days of the date of the receipt of an EMS-209 reporting employment, the food stamp caseworker must review the case record and take the appropriate action.

If full-time employment has been reported to the food stamp office, the household will be granted good cause for any non-compliance.

If employment has been reported, but it is less than full-time employment; good cause cannot be granted automatically. A notice must be sent to the household if additional information is needed to determine whether the household had good cause.

If employment has not been reported by the household, the caseworker will attempt to confirm the reported employment by contacting the employer or other collateral contact.

If the caseworker is able to confirm employment, the EMS-209 will be handled as a substantiated report of unreported earned income. The household will be issued a notice of adverse action which specifies:

1.That the county has information confirming there is unreported earned income;

2.That the household must furnish verification of the earned income before the date specified on the notice; and

3.That failure to verify the earned income will result in closure of the household's food stamp case.

If the caseworker is not able to confirm the report of earned income, the EMS-209 will be handled as a report of Workfare non-compliance. The household will be sanctioned unless good cause for the non-compliance is established. If good cause for the non-compliance is established, the household's certification period will be shortened as explained in FSC 11320.

3854Notice of Adverse Action

The caseworker will issue a notice of adverse action to the household within 10 days of determining that a household has failed to comply with Workfare. The notice may be combined with a request for information in order to determine if the household had good cause for non-compliance.

When the prime designee or other Workfare eligible has failed to comply with Workfare without good cause, the notice of adverse action must specify that:

.The prime designee or other Workfare eligible has failed to comply with Workfare;

.As a result, the household will be disqualified for two months for every month of non-compliance; and

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3854 - 3855 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - AVOIDING

DATE: 4-15-88 SANCTION

.To avoid this sanction, the prime designee or other Workfare eligible must contact the Workfare Office and work off the outstanding obligation. (The telephone number of the Workfare office will be supplied.) See FSC 3855.

If it has not been established whether the prime designee or other Workfare eligible had good cause for the non-compliance, the notice must contain the following information.

1.The prime designee or other Workfare eligible has failed or refused to complete their Workfare obligation;

2.It has not been established that the Workfare participant had good cause for this non-compliance;

3.The household must contact the food stamp worker within 10 days so the food stamp worker may determine if the participant had good cause for the non-compliance; and

4.If the caseworker is unable to establish good cause for the non-compliance, the household will be subject to a two-month disqualification for each month of non-compliance without good cause.

NOTE:If particular information - (e.g., a doctor's statement) - is needed to establish good cause, this will be specified on the notice.

3855Avoiding a Sanction

To avoid the imposition of the sanction, the member who failed or refused to comply with the Workfare requirements (or any other household member who is Workfare eligible) must report to the Workfare Sponsor during the ten-day notice period. The Workfare Administrator will make arrangements with the participant to work off the outstanding obligation.

If the Workfare office cannot or does not allow a registrant to work off an obligation, the county will not impose a sanction.

If the Workfare eligible demonstrates to the Workfare Sponsor within the ten day advance notice period that he/she is in compliance, the Workfare Administrator will immediately notify the food stamp caseworker in writing, and no sanction will be imposed.

If the household does not contact the Workfare office or does not comply with Workfare, a sanction will be imposed as instructed in FSC 3850 through FSC 3854.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3856 - 3860 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - ENHANCED

DATE: 7-1-88 REIMBURSEMENT

3856Re-Establishing Eligibility After a Sanction is Imposed

When a sanction has been imposed for non-compliance with Workfare requirements, eligibility may be re-established after the disqualification has ended. To re-establish eligibility, the household must reapply and be found otherwise eligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program. If the household contains a Workfare eligible member or members, the proper referrals will be made as instructed in FSC 3830.

A Workfare sanction which has been imposed may be lifted when at least one of the following conditions is met.

Condition 1 -The member who failed or refused to comply with Workfare (or any other Workfare eligible member of the household) reports to the Workfare Sponsor's office and satisfies all outstanding Workfare obligations.

Condition 2 -It is determined that the household no longer contains a member who is subject to the Workfare requirement. The food stamp office may request verification that all Workfare eligible members have left the home. (This condition also applies when all workfare eligibles become exempt from the Workfare requirements as specified in FSC 3810 - 3811.)

Condition 3 -It is determined that the sanctioned member is residing in a county that has no Workfare Program.

Condition 4 -It is determined that the sanction was imposed in error. If a household is sanctioned due to an error on the part of either the Workfare Sponsor or the Food Stamp office, the caseworker must reopen the case using the information on the last application, restore any lost benefits and notify the household. When either condition 1 or condition 2 has been met, the household may reapply and may participate if otherwise eligible. If the household is found eligible, benefits will be prorated to the date of application. See FSC 8610.

3860Fair Hearings

Each Workfare household has a right to a fair hearing for appealing a denial or termination of benefits due to agency determination of failure to comply with Workfare requirements.

In the event a participant requests a fair hearing, the Workfare Sponsor must be available to participate if a hearing is scheduled. The county office will provide the Workfare Sponsor with advance notice of hearing in sufficient time to allow the attendance of a Workfare Office representative.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3870 - 3880 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - ENHANCED

DATE: 7-1-88 REIMBURSEMENT

3870Reports to be Submitted by the EMS County Office

The county EMS Supervisor will submit to the Food Stamp Section, Central Office, quarterly reports on EMS-210 showing the number of households referred, the number of households assigned jobs each month, the number of individuals assigned jobs each month, the number of hours worked for the quarter. Reports are due within 30 days of the end of the quarter.

3880Sharing Workfare Savings - Enhanced Reimbursement

A political subdivision is entitled under Food Stamp Act Amendments of 1982 to share in the benefit reductions which occur when a Workfare participant begins employment while participating in Workfare for the first time, or within thirty days of ending the first participation in Workfare.

.To begin employment means to appear at the place of employment and to begin working.

.First participation in Workfare means performing work for the first time in a particular Workfare Program. The only break in participation which will not end a first participation is a break due to the participant's taking a job which: a) does not affect the household's allotment by an entire month's wages; and b) which is followed by a return to Workfare.

The political subdivision must calculate benefit reductions from each Workfare participant's employment as follows:

1.The benefit reduction equals the difference between the last allotment issued before the participant began the new employment and the first allotment which reflects a full month's wages.

2.If the political subdivision knows of other changes beside the new job which affect the household's allotment after the new job began, the political subdivision will obtain from the county office the first allotment affected by an entire month's wages from the new job. The allotment will then be recalculated to account for the wages, earned income deduction attributable to the new job. In recalculating the allotment the political subdivision will also replace any AFDC grant received after the new job with the one received in the last month before the new job began. The difference between the first allotment that accounts for the new job and the recalculated allotment will be the benefit reduction.

3.The political subdivision's share of the benefit reduction is three (3) times the difference, divided by two.

4.If, during these procedures, an error is discovered in the last food stamp allotment issued before the new employment began, then that allotment must be corrected before the savings are calculated.

FOOD STAMP CERTIFICATION MANUAL SECTION: WORK REGISTRATION

3880 - 3880 SUBJECT: WORKFARE - ENHANCED

DATE: 12-1-90 REIMBURSEMENT

5.If a participant begins employment and the new allotment was never issued (earnings not verified, etc.), the political subdivision will obtain income verification from participant's employer. This information will then be provided to the county office who will reconstruct the allotment to reflect an entire month's wages for the new job. The difference between the two allotments is the benefit reduction, and this will be used to calculate the enhanced reimbursement.

To claim and receive the enhanced reimbursement, the procedure is the same as for reimbursing workfare's regular expenses. Totals of benefit reductions for the period covered by the claim are entered in the miscellaneous section of the claim document (Statements of Expenditures and Request for Funds - Standard Form SS-1040). The political subdivision will be prepared to make available for review documentation to support each claim.

The enhanced reimbursement to the Workfare office will be limited to the amount of its actual unreimbursed costs for the fiscal year in which the participant begins the job which results in the savings.

Example 1The household's allotment at the time the Workfare participant went to work was $240. The allotment is reduced to $93 as a result of including the earnings.

Enhanced reimbursement equals 240 - 93 (147) x 3 = 441 - 2 = 220.50. The amount claimed as enhanced reimbursement is $220.50.

Example 2The household's allotment at the time the Workfare participant went to work was $83. Two additional household members were added prior to earnings. After changes (income included) were made, the allotment was increased to $102. There would be no enhanced reimbursement claimed.