An EU member who was employed 30 hours or more per week, or who had earnings exceeding the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours per week, is ineligible to participate in the Food Stamp Program when the EU member:
- voluntarily and without good cause reduces his/her work effort, and
- after the reduction, is:
- working less than 30 hours per week, or
- earning less than the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours per week
These individuals are subject to the penalties outlined in 1105.025.10 Sanctions for Job Quit, Reduced Work Hours or Refusal of an Offer of Suitable Employment.
NOTE: If the individual who voluntarily reduced the number of hours worked continues to earn weekly wages that exceed the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours, the individual remains exempt from work requirements and the reduction in work effort sanction does not apply.
Explore work effort reduction at application, recertification, and when a change is reported. For example, a reported change in income may indicate a reduction in the number of hours worked per week.
When the EU reports a change that indicates the number of hours worked per week have been reduced to less than 30 hours per week, consider minor variations in the number of hours worked or in the weekly minimum wage equivalent. Minor variations in the number of hours worked or in the weekly minimum wage equivalent are inevitable and must be considered when assessing compliance with the work effort reduction provision.
If it is determined the participant voluntarily reduced his/her work effort to less than 30 hours per week, explore good cause. See 1105.025.10.05 Determining Good Cause for Job Quit, Reduced Work Hours or Refusal of an Offer of Suitable Employment. If the participant did not have good cause for the reduction, apply the sanctions outlined in 1105.025.10 Sanctions for Job Quit, Reduced Work Hours or Refusal of an Offer of Suitable Employment.
Work effort reduction information is captured on the Job Quit/Work Reduction (FMMT) screen. See the Job Quit/Work Reduction user guide for instructions on entering the sanction.