State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 25-01 April 9, 2025

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5.1 FSET Participant Expense Reimbursement

FSET agencies must provide supportive services to ABAWD and non-ABAWD participants for reasonable and necessary expenses that directly relate to FSET participation in allowable FSET activities. An ABAWD cannot be penalized for not meeting the FoodShare work requirement if the FSET agency fails to provide supportive services that are reasonable and necessary for meeting the FSET participation requirement. Good cause hours should be provided if required supportive services are unavailable to the participant.

For the purpose of determining whether a supportive service is reasonable and necessary for meeting FSET participation, the federal government defines these terms as follows:

Reasonable Cost

A cost is considered reasonable if it:

• Does not exceed that which someone who is careful with their finances would pay.
• Provides a program benefit generally in line with its cost.
• Is comparable to other similar types of program costs.
• Is within the scope of FSET.

Necessary Cost

A cost is considered necessary if it:

• Is taken on in order to carry out essential functions of FSET.
• Cannot be avoided without negatively impacting program services and operations.
• Is clear there is a greater need for this expense compared to other competing needs for administrative resources.
• Does not duplicate existing efforts. The product or service must not be available through another government program or available at no cost to the participant through a private source (for example, charitable donations).

Supportive services must be both reasonable and necessary for FSET participation. FSET workers cannot under any circumstances provide supportive services as incentives or rewards for enrollment or participation in FSET.

Supportive services are not allowable as a stand-alone service. FoodShare members cannot enroll in FSET for the sole purpose of receiving supportive services. A participant must be enrolled and participating in at least one allowable FSET component activity to be eligible for supportive services.

Example 1

Phil, a FoodShare-eligible student, is referred to FSET. Phil requests help with interviewing skills and finding work after graduation. He also needs help paying for textbooks. Phil is assigned to an educational component and is enrolled in interviewing and job-seeking workshops. Supportive services for textbooks is allowable because Phil is assigned to at least one allowable FSET component with allowable activities, and he is not enrolling in FSET for the sole purpose of receiving supportive services.

Supportive services for an FSET participant must be tracked on the Track Supportive Services page in the CARES Worker Web (CWW) FSET Tool. This page is used to list all instances of support services being requested, provided, or referred to a participant, along with the cost of each FSET-provided supportive service. Supportive services provided by the FSET agency, but funded by an outside source, must be tracked on this page with a zero-dollar amount entered for the cost. 

5.1.1 FSET Participant Expense Reimbursement

FSET participants are eligible for assistance to cover the cost of transportation and other expenses that are reasonable and necessary for the completion of assigned FSET activities. The nature and scope of participant reimbursement for FSET-related expenses may vary from agency to agency, depending upon availability of funding and the extent to which barriers exist for the FSET participant within the local area. The most common types of participant reimbursements include:

• Transportation (mileage, bus tokens, bus passes, taxi cab vouchers, gas money) to and from the location of the FSET activity (see Section 10.4 Appendix D: Supportive Services Allowable Expenses)
• Child care and related costs, including enrollment fees
• Clothing suitable for job interviews
• Uniforms needed to participate in an assigned training/activity
• Licensing and bonding fees
• Textbooks, including GED/HSED test fees and training materials
• Job Attainment Costs (job specific clothing and work-related tools)
• Items required for maintaining employment obtained:
  • As a result of participating in FSET
  • Prior to participating in FSET if both statements are true:
    • Current employment is included as an assigned activity on the Employment Plan
    • Other activities are assigned in addition to current employment

Note

Reimbursement for assistance with textbooks, training materials, school supplies, tuition, lab fees, and other education-related costs necessary for training, is not allowable if the same assistance is provided to non-FSET participants for free (see Section 10.3 APPENDIX C: FSET Fundable Component Activities for additional requirements).

In addition to expense reimbursement for job search, work experience, workfare, and education, participant reimbursement is also allowable for expenses incurred as a result of participating in other FSET components including:

• Self- Employment
  FSET services for this component primarily consist of providing technical assistance to participants with sound business ideas to start or expand their own business. Participant reimbursement for minor items such as business cards and transportation expenses are allowable FSET expenses. Reimbursement for the purchase of equipment, such as a computer or vehicle, is not an allowable FSET expense.
• Career Advancement and Enhancement
  FSET agencies may serve individuals who are employed full-time or part-time. Allowable expenses for career advancement and enhancement may include reimbursement for training or completing course work that will allow the FSET participant to increase earnings at a job they obtained prior to volunteering for FSET.

Note	The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 lifted the $25 transportation and work-related expense limit.

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Publication Number: P-00419