Washington State administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), referred to as the Basic Food Program, as authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014. The Basic Food Program administers federally funded SNAP and the state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP). The Basic Food Program helps low-income individuals obtain a more nutritious diet by supplementing their income with Basic Food benefits issued on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. FAP provides food assistance for individuals who are legal immigrants and meet federal income requirements, but do not meet federal immigration status for SNAP. FAP recipients are not eligible for the BFET program.
States must provide employment and training services to Basic Food Program participants as a part of administering SNAP. BFET is the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program in Washington State. USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides the federal funding for BFET services and has oversight authority for SNAP E&T services.
Federal Regulations require some Basic Food recipients categorized as Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) to register for work and participate in approved activities to maintain their eligibility for food assistance. When Washington State does not have a statewide waiver, ABAWD Basic Food recipients can meet the participation requirement through BFET’s approved employment and training activities.
However, it is important to remember that Washington State’s BFET Program is voluntary; there are no mandatory participation requirements.