FSET agencies must provide supportive services to non-exempt ABAWD, exempt ABAWD, and non-ABAWD FSET participants for reasonable and necessary expenses that directly relate to FSET participation. A non-exempt ABAWD cannot be penalized for not meeting the work requirement if the FSET agency fails to provide supportive services that are reasonable and necessary for meeting the FSET participation requirement.

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 his/her finances would pay,
- Provides a program benefit generally in line with its cost,
- Is comparable to other similar types of program costs, and
- 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,
- There is a greater need for this expense compared to other competing needs for administrative resources, and
- 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 (e.g. charitable donations).

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

The most common types of supportive services include: bus tokens, gas vouchers, interview clothes, training or work uniforms.

Supportive services for an FSET participant are tracked on the Track Supportive Services page in the CARES Worker Web (CWW) FSET Tool. This screen 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.

5.1 FSET Participant Expense Reimbursement

FSET participants are eligible for assistance to cover the cost of transportation and other FSET-related 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 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, and
Textbooks, GED/HSED test fees and training materials.*

* 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 Appendix C – Post-Secondary Education Component Activity 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 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- 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 s/he 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.

This page last updated in Release Number: 15-01

Release Date: 02/26/15

Effective Date: 02/26/15