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)))
- b. Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) [28]
- A State agency interested in receiving additional funding for serving able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) subject to the 3- month time limit, in accordance with 7 C.F.R. §273.7(d)(3), must include the following for each Federal fiscal year covered by the Combined Plan under WIOA:
[28] 7 CFR § 273.7(c)(7)
- b. Able-bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD) [28]
b. 6. Information about the education, training, and workfare components it will offer to meet the ABAWD work requirement
Current Narrative:
The following program components are designed to provide meaningful opportunities to facilitate and enhance the employability of FSET participants:
- Supervised Job Search and Job Search Training
- Work Experience
- Workfare
- Education and Vocational Training
- Self-Employment Training
- Job Retention
FSET participants must agree to participate in at least one approved component in order to remain enrolled in FSET. ABAWDs must participate in qualifying activities in order to meet the work requirement. As previously mentioned, Supervised Job Search and Job Search Training are qualifying activities for ABAWDs only when less than half of the individual’s total participation requirement is met through these activities. However, when offered under WIOA, such as career development and training programs for adults and dislocated workers, or under section 236 of the Trade Act, which includes federally-funded employment programs for workers that have or who are at risk of losing employment, Supervised Job Search and Job Search Training are considered qualifying activities for meeting the ABAWD work requirement. Work Experience, Workfare, Education and Vocational Training, and Self-Employment Training are also qualifying activities for ABAWDs.
As specified in 7 CFR 273.24 and 7 CFR 273.7(f), participation in other allowable work programs counts toward meeting the work requirement, including:
- A program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Pub. L. 113-128);
- A program under section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2296); and
- Another State-operated or supervised employment and training program, other than job search or job search training (these components can be offered as subsidiary components, but must comprise less than half of an individual’s participation hours).
ABAWDs who are not currently working may participate in FSET as a way to meet the work requirement. These individuals should participate in FSET for at least 80 hours per month, or an average of 20 hours per week, to maintain ongoing eligibility for FoodShare beyond the three time-limited benefit months.
ABAWD FoodShare members who are currently working, but whose work hours total less than 80 hours a month, will be referred to FSET. These individuals may meet the work requirement through a combination of working and participating in FSET. For these cases, the number of FSET participation hours will differ based on an individual’s other work hours. The minimum suggested monthly FSET participation hours will equal the difference between 80 hours and the individual’s monthly work hours (e.g. 80 hours – 40 work hours per month = 40 FSET participation hours per month). To maintain enrollment, non-ABAWD FSET participants need to put forth a minimum effort by participating in FSET activities for at least 12 hours per month for two consecutive months.