Located in:
- Employment and Training Programs Under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Programs Authorized Under Section 6(d)(4) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2015(d)(4)))
- a. General RequirementsThe State agency must prepare and submit an Employment and Training (E&T) Plan to its appropriate Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Regional Office. The E&T Plan must be available for public inspection at the State agency headquarters. A State agency may include its plan for the SNAP E&T program in a Combined Plan under WIOA but will require FNS approval prior to implementation and must continue to make a copy of the plan available for public inspection. If a State includes SNAP E&T in a Combined Plan under WIOA, the State agency will detail the following for each year covered by the Combined Plan:
- a. General Requirements
a. 4. The Characteristics of the Population the State Agency Intends to Place in E&t;
Current Narrative:
By a system-generated report, those SNAP participants who meet the definition of an ABAWD and who are not employed at least 20 hours per week on an average; and
By caseworker action, any other work registered household member who asks to participate in the E&T Program.
Once a SNAP recipient is referred to the E&T Program, participation will be voluntary. No participant who refuses or fails to cooperate with an E&T Program requirement will be penalized.
DHS estimates that approximately 23,237 individuals will be referred to the E&T Program in the 21 counties during the upcoming Federal Fiscal Year. We expect about 14,811 work registrants who do not meet the ABAWD criteria to volunteer for the E&T Program.
During FFY 2016, an estimated 8,676 ABAWDs in 13 E&T counties will be referred to participate in the SNAP E&T program, out of a total of 38,568 ABAWDs statewide. This projection reflects over a 4% decrease in SNAP caseload from June 2014 to June 2015.
As the time-limit approached (April 1, 2016), there were 9,170 ABAWDs at risk of losing SNAP due to non-compliance, of the total population of 26,440 ABAWDs.
Since PRWORA, the State of Arkansas has chosen to utilize all of the ABAWD 15% exemptions granted by FNS.
FFY 2015, quarter 3 indicates 10,244 automated ABAWD referrals to our 13 contracted counties, compared to 9,179 in quarter 3 last year. Quarter 4 projections reflect a total of 13,659 ABAWDs will be referred to participate at the close of FFY 2015.
FFY 2014, 12,663 ABAWDs were referred to participated in the SNAP E&T program, in initially 14 counties, losing 3 counties in May 2014, but adding 2 more counties in September 2014. 477 declined to participation, and 1,928 were exempt from participation.
FFY 2013, 12,524 ABAWDs were referred to participate in the SNAP E&T program in 14 program counties. 432 declined to participate, and 1,812 were exempt.
Table 1: Estimated Participation Levels Federal Fiscal Year 2016
| Figure | Description | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| A. | Anticipated number of work registrants in the State during the fiscal year | 66,128 |
| B. | 1. Exempt Category: Geographic | 0 |
| B. | 2. Exempt Category: Certification period less than 3 months | |
| B. | 3. Exempt Category: Personal exemptions granted by contractor ** | 2012 |
| B. | Total Exemptions | 29,572 |
| C. | Percent of all work registrants exempt from E&T (B/A) | |
| D. | Number of E&T Program mandatory referrals | 8,676 |
| E. | Anticipated numbers of ABAWDs in the State during the fiscal year | 38,568 |
| F. | Anticipated number of ABAWDs in waived areas of the State during the fiscal year, as of Aug 26, 2015, State is under statewide waiver, so this number is ABAWDs in non-E&T counties | 29,892 |
| G. | Anticipated number of ABAWDs to be exempted under the State’s 15% ABAWD exemption allowance during the fiscal year | 1,301 |
| H. | Number of at-risk ABAWDs expected in the State during the fiscal year (E-(F+G)) | 8,676 |
NOTE: **this data provided by the 12 Contractors for 13 Counties, in FFY 2015.
The State currently operates a voluntary program with automatic referrals, with no waivers.
Table 2: Estimated E&T Placements, Federal Fiscal Year 2016
Estimated E&T Placements in 13 Counties
| Figure | Description | Total Estimated |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Number of ABAWD applicants and recipients expected to participate in a qualifying ABAWD component each month. | 1,290 |
| 2. | Number of all other applicants and recipients (including ABAWDs involved in non-qualifying activities) expected to participate in a component each month. | 14 |
| 3. | Total number of applicants and recipients the State agency expects to participate in a component each month during the fiscal year. | 1,304 |
Estimated Individual Participation in 21 Counties
Federal Fiscal Year 2016
| Description | Total Estimated |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals expected to participate in the E&T Program during the fiscal year 2016 | 23,237 |
FFY 2015 Contractor annual reports, total ABAWD Assignments
FFY 2015 Contractor reports, volunteer referrals column, Q1-Q3 totals + Q4 projection
FFY 2015 Contractor annual reports, total Assignments
FFY 2015 Contractor reports, total referrals column, Q1-Q3 totals + Q4 projection
March 2016 ABAWDs for Goodwill counties is 9,578, or 798 per month.