Narrative: a. 10.

Program Coordination

Mandatory work registrants will be screened at application and during recertification or every twelve months, whichever is later. During clearance of the work registration status, the eligibility worker will screen individuals to determine their LaJET status and to screen for ABAWDs. The eligibility worker will provide each registrant a written explanation of the work requirements through the mail. Mandatory work registrants will be identified on the State’s eligibility system by a special code. Non-ABAWDs who do not have a barrier to SNAP E&T program participation and reside in a LaJET parish and are a mandatory work registrant will be referred to LaJET. ABAWDs who do not have a barrier to SNAP E&T program participation will be referred to LWC. LaJET volunteers will also be identified. Information obtained during the work registration screening process will be entered on the State’s eligibility system as work registrant household members are certified or recertified.

The eligibility worker at the local DCFS office will be responsible for screening all mandatory work registrants by identifying the work registrant and/or volunteers who are to participate in SNAP E&T. The eligibility worker will also be responsible for all referral activities related to the LaJET Program and to LWC. Referrals are entered on the State’s eligibility system for mandatory LaJET participants and volunteers, and ABAWDs who would be subject to the SNAP time limit if there was not an ABAWD waiver in place. From this information, a weekly Super Referral Report of LaJET referents will be sent to the LaJET Service Provider (SP) and weekly referral report of ABAWDs will be sent to LWC.

E&T Component Assignment: The DCFS Regional Program Consultants will also perform compliance monitoring semi-annually in the local DCFS parish office and LaJET office in addition to conducting reviews of E&T and ABAWD during the Management Evaluation Review. The DCFS Contract Section will monitor the LaJET contract to ensure that the LaJET Service Provider is in compliance with program policy and procedures and fiscal requirements outlined in the contract. This monitoring will be conducted at least on an annual basis and will include reviewing program and fiscal records, LWC’s monthly invoices and participant reimbursements made to SNAP clients.

The SP determines if the individual failed to comply.

Conciliation with LaJET:

• Is an attempt to reach a resolution of the participant’s failure to comply with the employment and training requirements prior to initiation of a sanction.
• Must be initiated by the LaJET Service Provider the day following the date the individual fails to comply.
• Cannot exceed 30 days and may end sooner if the participant refuses to cooperate in the process.
• Is considered successful when the participant performs a verifiable act of compliance.
• Is available to all E&T participants.

Conciliation with LWC for ABAWDs:

• Is an attempt to reach a resolution of the participant’s failure to comply with the employment and training requirements prior to initiation of a sanction.
• Will be initiated if the ABAWD fails to contact LWC at the end of 30 days.
• LWC will send a second letter to the ABAWD at the end of 30 days allowing another 30 days for the ABAWD to contact LWC to comply.
• At the end of the second 30-day period, LWC will send a third letter advising the ABAWD to contact LWC to comply.
• At the end of 90 days without compliance, LWC will notify DCFS of non-compliance.

Preparation of the Notice of Adverse Action

If the participant does not comply during the conciliation process the LaJET Service Provider (SP) will notify the local DCFS of the participant’s non-compliance via the LaJET Provider to Parish Communication Form, (LaJET 2). The form must be sent within 2 days of the determination of non-compliance. Upon receipt of notification from the LaJET Service Provider of failure to comply, the worker will contact the mandatory work registrant to determine if good cause exists for non-compliance. If good cause does not exist, DCFS will mail a Notice of Adverse Action within 10 days proposing disqualification of the mandatory LaJET participant or the household, as appropriate.

Determination of Good Cause

Based on the information that is reported by the LaJET provider on the Provider to Parish Communication Form (LaJET 2) regarding the reason for non-compliance and information provided by the mandatory work registrant, the eligibility worker will determine whether the individual had good cause for failure to comply.

If an ABAWD does not comply within 90 days, LWC will send a report of non-compliance to DCFS. The worker will review case notes in their Helping Individuals Reach Employment (HiRE) account, and will contact the ABAWD to determine if good cause exists for non-compliance. If good cause does not exist, DCFS will mail a Notice of Adverse Action within 10 days proposing disqualification of the ABAWD or the household, as appropriate.

Sanctioning Resulting From Noncompliance With the E&T Program Requirements

Mandatory work registrants are individuals who are not exempt from SNAP work requirements and are ineligible if they fail to meet the work registration requirements without good cause. This includes failing to create a HiRE account, failing to comply with LaJET for non-ABAWDs, or failing to comply with LWC for ABAWDs. Any household member may assist a mandatory work registrant with creating a (HiRE) account to register for work.

Length of sanction:

• First violation - the individual will be ineligible for 3 months or until compliance, whichever is later.
• Second and subsequent violations - the individual will be ineligible for six months or until compliance, whichever is later.

If the individual who does not comply is the head of the household, the entire household is ineligible for the duration of the sanction.

Notifications of failure to comply with E&T requirements from the Service Provider are documented in the case and reported to the Department of Children and Family Services on a monthly basis.