1.4 FSET Component Activities

FSET program activities are also known as program components. A participant must agree to engage in at least one approved component activity to remain enrolled in FSET. It is not allowable to be enrolled in FSET only to receive participant reimbursement. Participant reimbursement must be associated with participation in an allowable FSET component activity.

Participants must be engaged in at least one component activity within the first three weeks after enrollment. Component activities are entered on the Assign Activity page of the FSET Tool. Each assigned activity becomes part of the participant’s employment plan see section 4.5 of this handbook for more information on the employment plan.

1.4.1 Job Search

Job search and job search training activities are designed to assist participants to prepare for work by addressing barriers to successful employment. Agencies assist participants to develop, practice, and apply job seeking skills with the goal of securing employment. This includes:

Assistance with applications and resume development
Motivational and informational workshops
Interviewing skills, including mock interviewing
Labor market information
Job clubs
Job leads and job referrals
Job development and job placement, as needed

Assigning a non-exempt ABAWD to upfront job search and job search training without other assigned components is not allowable for FSET, unless these activities are assigned as a component of workfare, see section 1.4.3 of this handbook. Job search and job search training are non-work components and non-qualifying activities for ABAWDs unless time spent in these components accounts for no more than half of an ABAWD’s participation requirement. Job search and job search training are considered qualifying activities for meeting the ABAWD work requirement when offered under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) (e.g. career development and training programs for adults and dislocated workers) or under section 236 of the Trade Act, which includes federally funded employment programs for workers who have lost or are at risk of losing employment.

The duration of job search activities may vary from 30 days to no more than 180 days without re-assessment. If progress toward obtaining employment is lacking after 180 days, the employment plan must be reviewed to determine if further assessment, training, or educational options should be explored.

1.4.2 Education and Vocational Training

Educational programs or activities that improve basic skills and employability are qualifying activities that meet the participation requirement as long as there is a direct link between the educational activity and employment.

Allowable educational activities include Adult Basic Education (ABE), basic workplace literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), high school equivalency (GED), short-term training certification and some types of post-secondary education.

Vocational training activities are also qualifying educational activities for ABAWDs. These training programs improve employability by providing training in a skill or trade, thereby allowing the participant to move directly and promptly into employment. Acceptable vocational training programs should expect to lead to employment that is in demand.

FSET agencies are encouraged to work with local employers to design customized job skills training programs based on the skill needs of employers in the local labor market. This includes partnering with technical colleges to offer certified qualifying training programs.

The following factors are critical in determining whether FSET funding may be used to fund an educational component:

A participant must be assigned to, or placed in, an approved educational component by the FSET agency as part of the participant's employment plan;
FSET funding cannot be used to supplant funds for existing services;
Charges for FSET students cannot exceed the cost applied to non-FSET students for the same service; and
A FS member who is an eligible student already attending the institution (without benefit of FSET participation) is exempt from FS work requirements, including FSET participation. While the student may volunteer to participate in another FSET activity, his or her education costs are already being met, and it is not appropriate to use federal funds to subsidize those expenses.

1.4.3 Workfare

Workfare is intended to be used as a qualifying activity for non-exempt ABAWDs who need to develop the basic skills and/or work history necessary to enter the job market successfully. Workfare provides participants the opportunity to learn new job skills and establish work references. The primary goal of workfare is to improve employability and encourage individuals to move into regular employment while returning something of value to the community. Workfare assignments cannot replace or prevent regular employment and must provide the same benefits and working conditions provided to regular employees performing comparable work for comparable hours.

Required hours of participation are determined by dividing the household’s monthly FS allotment by state or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. Federal law prohibits FSET agencies from requiring an ABAWD to work beyond the maximum number of hours calculated. See section 6.3.2.4 of this handbook for more information on determining required hour of participation for workfare.

Workfare positions may be established with public or private non-profit employers, including:

Placements with easily expandable work crews. These types of positions typically require little training, are not greatly disrupted by unplanned absences, and have easily expanded or contracted functions depending upon the need for positions. Examples include: housing authorities, parks and recreation, and sanitation departments.
Placements available through non-profit community organizations in the human services field. Examples include: community non-profits, religious organizations, hospitals, schools, and government agencies.

Subsidizing participant wages with FSET funds is not allowable under any circumstances.

1.4.4 Work Experience

Work experience or on-the-job training offers the opportunity for job shadowing or a short-term placement in an actual work or training setting. The benefits of work experience include exposing volunteers to a variety of work options, improving employability, and helping ease the participant’s transition into regular employment.

Work experience or on-the-job training is a qualifying activity for ABAWDs if the service enables the ABAWD to move promptly into regular public or private employment. Similar to workfare, the required hours of participation are determined by dividing the household’s monthly FS allotment by state or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. Federal law prohibits FSET agencies from requiring an ABAWD to work beyond the maximum number of hours calculated. Volunteering to work beyond the maximum number of hours is also prohibited under federal law.

In contrast to workfare, work experience placements can include placement with private, for-profit companies or public and private non-profit employers. Work experience assignments may not replace an individual’s regular employment and must provide the same benefits and working conditions provided to regularly employed persons performing similar work for equal hours. FSET agencies must monitor the quality of work experience sites to ensure they provide participants with the experience and skills necessary to advance employment opportunities.

1.4.5 Self-Employment

FSET participants assigned to this component must have sound business ideas but lack the practical skills to create and implement a plan for successful self-employment. The primary focus of this component is providing technical assistance to FSET participants starting their own business. Self-employment is a non-work component and a qualifying activity for ABAWDs.

Individualized technical assistance is provided in the following areas:

Creating a business plan to develop a small business
Conducting feasibility studies to determine viability of the product or service
Locating financial resources, including low cost loans and grants
Developing successful marketing strategies
Resolving credit problems
Navigating state and federal regulations
Providing ongoing technical assistance for up to 90 days of starting a business

1.4.6 Job Retention

FSET agencies must offer supportive services for up to 90 days for jobs obtained as a result of FSET participation. This component typically includes participant reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses to assist individuals in retaining employment, such as required clothing, equipment, or tools, relocation expenses, child care, and transportation. Job retention may also include case management services that address workplace demands and employer expectations.

This page last updated in Release Number: 15-01

Release Date: 02/26/15

Effective Date: 02/26/15