Food Stamp Employment and Training - Clients Who are Not Required to Participate
DSHS Home Page

EAZ
Search     for:
DSHS HomeACES ManualEAZ ManualSocial Services ManualWork First Manual
Acronyms  Revisions  WAC Number Index  Site Map  WCCC  DSHS Home

Food Stamp Employment and Training - Clients Who are Not Required to Participate

Revised October 28, 2007

Purpose:
WAC 388-444-0015Who is not required to register for work or participate in FS E&T?
WAC 388-444-0020When must clients register for work but are not required to participate in the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, (FS E&T)?

WAC 388-444-0015

WAC 388-444-0015

Effective January 1, 2007

WAC 388-444-0015 Who is not required to register for work or participate in FS E&T?

Some people do not have to register for work or participate in the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program (FS E&T). These people are exempt from FS E&T.  

  1. You are exempt from FS E&T requirements in chapter 388-444 WAC if you meet any of the following conditions:

    1. You are age sixteen or seventeen, not the head-of-household, and:

      1. Attend school such as high school or GED programs; or

      2. Are enrolled at least half time (using the institutions definition) in an employment and training program under:

        1. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA);

        2. Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974; or

        3. Another state or local employment and training program.

    2. You are a student age eighteen or older enrolled at least half time as defined by the institution in:

      1. Any accredited school;

      2. A training program; or

      3. An institution of higher education. If you are enrolled in higher education, you meet the requirements under WAC 388-482-0005 to be eligible for Basic Food benefits.

    3. You are an employed or self-employed person working thirty hours or more per week, or receiving weekly earnings equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by thirty.

    4. You receive unemployment compensation (UC) benefits or have an application pending for UC benefits;

    5. You are responsible to care for:

      1. A dependent child under age six; or

      2. Someone who is incapacitated;

    6. We determine that you are physically or mentally unable to work; or

    7. You regularly participate in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program.

  2. If you are exempt, you may choose to receive services through the FS E&T program.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

WAC 388-444-0020

WAC 388-444-0020

Effective November 18, 2000

WAC 388-444-0020 When must clients register for work but are not required to participate in the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program, (FS E&T)?

WAC  

You, as a client, must register for work, as provided in WAC 388-444-0005, even though you are exempt from participation in the FS E&T program if you are:

  1. Participating in a refugee assistance program;

  2. Living in an area where the FS E&T program is not provided (exempt area) See Food Stamp E&T Appendix I for exempt areas;

  3. Living one hour or more travel distance from available FS E&T services;

  4. Without a mailing address or message telephone;

  5. Temporarily unable to work and it is expected to last longer than sixty days; or

  6. A client who has dependent care needs that exceed the maximum amount payable by the department. The exemption continues until:

    1. A different work activity is available; or

    2. Circumstances change and monthly dependent care costs no longer exceed the reimbursement limit set by the department.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

  1. We apply and code personal exemptions (such as child under six, etc.) in both non-exempt and exempt areas.

  2. If someone participates in methadone treatment, we consider this to be regularly participating in drug treatment.


NOTE: See Appendix I for participation requirements based on where the client lives.

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Screen for mandatory E&T participation:

    1. Determine the client's exempt or non-exempt status for FS E&T. See WAC 388-444-0015 or WAC 388-444-0020; and

    2. Code work exemption information for each adult even if the person lives in an exempt area.

  2. Register non-exempt persons for work:

    Register non-exempt clients for work at the initial application and at recertification as described in the ACES Procedures - Work Registration.

  3. Volunteering for FS E&T Services:

    Exempt clients may volunteer for E&T services. As a volunteer they may:

    1. Receive supportive services (see FS E&T Section D - Payments for Related Expenses); and

    2. Not be disqualified for not cooperating with the program.


Verifying a Personal Exemption

  1. Accept a client's statement of employment status or job availability unless the information is questionable.

  2. To verify questionable information have the client provide:

    1. Evidence of the claimed exemption; or

    2. The name and contact information of an acceptable collateral source who can be contacted for further verification.

  3. If a client claims to be physically or mentally unable to work and the client's statement is questionable, verify the claim by:

    1. Proof of permanent disability benefits issued by a public or private source; or

    2. A statement from a qualified professional or their staff.

  4. For self-employment the client must provide records to show the hours worked.

Back to top

Modification Date: October 28, 2007
Have comments on the manual? Please e-mail us. You can also use this link to report broken links or content problems.