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State of Wisconsin |
HISTORY |
The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) structures the SNAP employment and training program into components including job search, job search training, workfare, work experience, education, self-employment, and job retention. Wisconsin’s FSET components also include formal assessment and on-the-job training. FSET workers assign participants to program activities that each fall within one of the program components.
FSET activities are classified as qualifying and non-qualifying activities. In order to meet the ABAWD work requirement through FSET participation, non-exempt ABAWDs must participate in qualifying activities for at least half of their total required hours. FSET agencies are required to provide qualifying activities so that all ABAWDs who enroll in FSET are able to meet the work requirement by participating in FSET, if they choose. FSET workers must not assign non-exempt ABAWDs to non-qualifying activities for more than half of their total required hours.
Employment search, which falls within the job search component, is a non-qualifying activity. Job readiness and motivation, the only activity within the job search training component, is also a non-qualifying activity. Enrollment and orientation do not fall within any of the components and are also non-qualifying activities. All other component activities are qualifying activities.
FSET agencies must offer a variety of activities in order to comprehensively address the unique needs of each participant. See FSET Handbook 10.3 Appendix C: FSET Fundable Component Activities for a complete list of FSET fundable activities.
The job search and job search training components are for participants engaged in employment search and participants who need general guidance with the job search process. Agencies assist job search and job search training participants in developing, practicing, and applying job seeking skills with the goal of securing employment. This includes:
Assistance with applications and resume development
Interviewing skills, including mock interviewing
Labor market information
Job clubs
Job leads and job referrals
Job development and job placement, as needed
The activities under the job search component include employment search and workfare job search. Employment search is a non-qualifying activity. Workfare job search is a qualifying activity that may be assigned to workfare participants in the first 30-days of a workfare placement. Non-exempt ABAWDs who are employed should not be assigned to workfare job search. Non-ABAWDs and exempt ABAWDs should not be assigned to workfare job search. See FSET Handbook 1.4.3 Workfare for more information on assigning participants to workfare.
Job readiness and motivation is the only activity within the job search training component. It is a non-qualifying activity.
FSET workers may only assign a non-exempt ABAWD participant to employment search, job readiness and motivation, and other non-qualifying activities for less than half of the total required hours, in total. However, job search and job search training activities are considered qualifying activities when offered as a part of workfare or through an allowable work program. See FSET Handbook 6.4 Co-Enrollment in FSET and Another Allowable Work Program and 10.5 Appendix E: Qualifying Work Programs for ABAWDs for more information on qualifying work programs for ABAWDs.
FSET workers must reassess assignment to activities within job search and job search training during regular employment plan reviews in accordance with FSET Handbook 8.1 Employment Plan Reviews. During employment plan reviews FSET workers should discuss with participants whether participation in assessment, training, or education activities would help the participant better achieve employment goals.
All activities within the education component are qualifying activities. Educational activities must have a direct link to employment.
Allowable activities within the education component include:
Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Driver’s Education
Customized Skills Training
English as a Second Language
General Educational Development
High School Equivalency Diploma
Higher Education - Full-time Student
Higher Education - Part-time Student
Job Skills Training
Job Readiness/Motivation
Literacy Skills
Post-secondary Education (2 years or less)
Regular School (K-12)
Vocational Adult Basic Education
Vocational English as a Second Language
Vocational Literacy
See FSET Handbook 10.3 Appendix C: FSET Fundable Component Activities for a full description of the activities listed above.
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 activity:
The educational activity must be on the participant’s employment plan;
FSET funding cannot be used to replace funds for existing services;
Charges for FSET students cannot exceed the cost applied to non-FSET students for the same service; and
A FoodShare member who is an eligible student already attending the institution (without benefit of FSET participation) is exempt from FoodShare work requirements. 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.
Workfare is the only activity within the workfare component. Workfare is 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. Employed non-exempt ABAWDs should not be assigned to workfare. Non-ABAWDs and exempt ABAWDs should not be assigned to workfare.
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 may not replace or prevent regular employment and must provide the same benefits and working conditions provided to regular employees performing comparable work for comparable hours.
Workfare is a household-level component. Required hours of participation for a household are determined by dividing the household’s monthly FoodShare allotment by the state or federal minimum wage, whichever is higher. FSET agencies cannot allow participants to volunteer in workfare beyond that maximum. See the FSET Handbook 6.3.2.4 Determining Required Hours of Participation for more information on determining required hours of participation for workfare.
Prior to assigning a participant to a workfare site, the FSET agency must establish a formal relationship with the employer. Workfare sites may be established with public or private non-profit employers, including:
Work sites 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.
Work sites available through non-profit community organizations in the human services field.
Examples include: community non-profits, religious organizations, hospitals, schools, and government agencies.
Workfare placements are unpaid opportunities for FSET participants. Subsidizing participant wages with FSET funds is not allowable under any circumstances.
Allowable activities under the work experience component include: FSET work experience, community service, transitional employment (co-enrollment), W-2 (co-enrollment), and trial job (co-enrollment). These are qualifying activities that offer the opportunity for job shadowing or short-term placement in a work or training setting. The benefits of work experience include exposing participants to a variety of job options, improving employability, and helping ease the participant’s transition into regular employment.
Non-exempt ABAWDs participating in work experience must meet the 80-hour per month work requirement. Non-exempt ABAWDs enrolled in work experience may meet the work requirement by voluntarily participating in work experience for 80 hours per month, or by participating in work experience in combination with other qualifying activities for a combined total of 80 hours per month. The calculation used to determine workfare participation hours for non-exempt ABAWDs cannot be used for work experience.
Prior to assigning a participant to a work experience site, the FSET agency must establish a formal relationship with the employer. Work experience sites can include placement with private, for-profit companies, public non-profit employers, and private non-profit employers. Work experience assignments may not replace or prevent regular employment and must provide the same benefits and working conditions provided to regular employees performing comparable work for comparable hours. FSET agencies must monitor the quality of work experience sites to ensure they provide participants with adequate experience and skills.
The only activity within the self-employment component is self-employment. It is a qualifying activity in which FSET participants receive technical assistance for designing and operating their own business.
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
The only activity under the job retention component is job retention. It is a qualifying activity that provides services for up to 90 days to participants who have secured employment. Both of the following must be true in order for an individual to participate in job retention:
The individual enrolled in FSET prior to obtaining employment; and
The individual received FoodShare benefits the month of or the month prior to when job retention services would begin.
The criteria above must be met each time the job retention component is assigned.
An individual who received job retention services for employment and then obtained new employment may be eligible for additional job retention services, if the individual participated in an FSET component besides job retention prior to gaining the new employment.
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Example: Sheena participates in employment search, gains employment, and receives 90 days of job retention services. Sheena later participates in employment search and job skills training to find a better job. Sheena obtains another job and qualifies for an additional 90 days of job retention services. |
There is no limit on the number of times an individual may receive job retention services if the individual participated in FSET activities, other than job retention, prior to obtaining the new employment.
Job retention includes job retention reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses to assist individuals in maintaining employment, and case management services that address workplace demands and employer expectations.
Individuals receiving job retention services usually will not continue to participate in other FSET components, but they may choose to continue participation. In some cases individuals may become FoodShare ineligible while enrolled in job retention services. Job retention services may continue after an individual becomes FoodShare ineligible as long as the individual became ineligible for a reason other than an intentional program violation or failure to comply with FoodShare work requirements without good cause. If an individual obtains employment but continues to participate in other allowable FSET components, he or she is eligible to receive supportive services if reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in the FSET components. For more information on supportive services, see FSET Handbook Chapter 5.0 Supportive Services.
Formal assessment is intended for FSET participants exploring their career interests and advancement opportunities. Activities within the formal assessment component are qualifying activities. They include:
Occupational testing
Career planning
Career advancement
The only activity under the on-the-job training component is on-the-job training. It is a qualifying activity and may be assigned when a participant is in a paid job subsidized by a program other than W-2 including:
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) on-the-job training
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) work experience
Economic Dislocation and Worker’s Adjustment Assistance Act (EDWAA) on-the-job training
Adult Apprenticeship
Employment subsidized by Green Thumb, Senior Aides Older Worker Program, the Wisconsin Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) workers.
This page last updated in Release Number: 17-02
Release Date: 10/30/2017
Effective Date: 10/30/2017
Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.
Publication Number: P-00419