Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSE&T) Program
Local Workforce Development Boards and their contractors administer services that assist non-public assistance food stamp recipients in entering employment or participating in education or vocational training activities that promote long-term self-sufficiency. Services include:
- Directed Job Search
- Vocational Education/Training
- Nonvocational Education/Training
- Work Experience
- Workfare (ABAWDs only)
- Unsubsidized Employment (allowable only if the individual is enrolled in other FSE&T activities)
Food stamp recipients ages 16 to 59 who are not employed, or are employed fewer than 30 hours per week, are considered FSE&T General Population mandatory work registrants and are required to participate in FSE&T. Food stamp recipients who are at least 18 - but less than 50 - years of age, not employed, or are employed less than 20 hours per week, are considered ABAWD mandatory work registrants and are required to participate in FSE&T. Food stamp recipients who meet federally established exemption criteria are not required to participate in FSE&T, but may voluntarily participate as funding permits.
Both mandatory work registrants and exempt food stamp recipients must participate in assigned FSE&T activities for a minimum weekly average of at least 30 hours. ABAWDs assigned to workfare must participate based on their Food Stamp allotment (divided by the number of ABAWDs in the food stamp household when there are multiple ABAWDs), divided by the federal minimum wage. Job search is not an allowable activity for ABAWDs unless it is done in conjunction with workfare.
Support services for transportation, dependent care expenses, and other expenses that are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in FSE&T activities are evaluated based on individual need. Payment for General Educational Development (GED) testing and certificates of high school equivalency also is available.
