6.6 Good Cause

The FSET agency is responsible for documenting FSET non-participation in assigned activities, while taking into consideration reasons that justify granting good cause.

Granting good cause allows a non-exempt ABAWD FSET participant to maintain FS eligibility if s/he remains enrolled in FSET but is temporarily unable to meet the work requirement. Before the FSET agency indicates that an individual’s monthly work requirement was unmet, a decision must be made to determine if there was good cause for the non-participation. The FSET worker indicates good cause on a monthly basis as part of tracking FSET participation hours, if necessary. When making decisions about granting good cause, the FSET worker should consider all facts and circumstances and seek additional information from other sources for clarification, as needed.

Non-participation of a non-exempt ABAWD FSET participant without good cause will result in use of one of the three time-limited benefit (TLB) months. If all three TLB months have been exhausted, non-participation without good cause may result in loss of FoodShare (FS) eligibility, unless hours of non-participation are made up prior to the end of the month or the participant becomes exempt from the work requirement.

6.6.1 Good Cause Reasons

Good cause may be granted for temporary circumstances beyond the ABAWD’s control, such as, but not limited to:

Illness;
Illness of another household member serious enough to require the person’s presence;
Unavailability of transportation;
Unanticipated emergency;
Employment or work program placement is no longer suitable;
The participant is terminated from a job or work program assigned activity due to circumstances beyond his or her control;
The participant is unable to meet participation requirements because they were disenrolled and re-enrolled in FSET in the same month. This may occur if the FSET agency receives a referral update indicating that the participant is FS ineligible, but FS never truly closed.
An individual is referred to FSET and there is an agency delay in enrollment.

Note: The FSET worker must document in PIN comments when good cause is granted. The description in PIN comments should include the reason and circumstances for granting good cause.

6.6.2 Verification of Good Cause

Agencies may verify good cause in cases where a pattern of absences exists, and the agency identifies that the explanation provided is questionable. A “pattern of absences” must extend beyond three consecutive working days or five working days in a rolling 30 calendar days period.

The FSET agency determines whether there is a reasonable explanation on a case-by-case basis in which the FSET agency staff member has knowledge, experience, and familiarity with the case and the community are factors.

This page last updated in Release Number: 15-01

Release Date: 02/26/15

Effective Date: 02/26/15