Work registration policy changes include:

• exempting food stamp EU Members who are applying for Temporary Assistance using exemption code 16, and
• the process for referring food stamp applicants who are sanctioned to DWD.

• Re-refer individuals in non-compliance with the Division of Workforce Development (DWD) who indicate they will comply using work assessment code 25. 

• Reminders are created in FAMIS as a result of a determination by DWD staff that an individual may meet a work registration exemption or exclusion.

• Work assessment code 18 is automatically entered in the system when a reminder from DWD staff is created.  The procedure to check with the EU to redetermine work assessment is outlined in Memorandum IM-#80 DWD Determines Individual May Meet a Work Registration Exemption or Exclusion.

• Code C--compliance, is created and used in the Good Cause field on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen when DWD staff notify FSD that an individual has complied.  This process has changed slightly.  Refer to the Compliance Code Changes section of this memorandum.

• Work assessment codes 23, 28, 98, and 99 are no longer applicable.  When completing the controlled flow on a converted case, the work assessment code must be updated for any individual who is currently coded 23, 28, 98, or 99.  When attempting to flow forward without updating the work assessment code, the error message "Invalid class code.  Must evaluate and correct class code" appears.

When an EU applies for Temporary Assistance and either applies for food stamp benefits at the same time or already receives food stamp benefits, assign work assessment code 16 to the adult food stamp EU members who are making application for Temporary Assistance, unless another exemption code is more appropriate (for example, the individual is disabled, use code 06).  The EU members who apply for Temporary Assistance are subject to Temporary Assistance work requirements.  To avoid duplicating services, the EU members are exempt from participating in METP.  If the Temporary Assistance application is subsequently rejected, change the work assessment code from 16 to the most appropriate code.

Food Stamp Applicants Wishing to Comply with METP and End Sanction

In addition to re-referring individuals to DWD while in conciliation or during the adverse action period, EU members who are already sanctioned may be re-referred to DWD to end their sanction.  We are working on programming to automate this process and you will be notified when the programming is complete. 

Until the changes are in production, when an EU member applying for food stamp benefits wishes to comply with DWD to end a sanction, send the individual to DWD using the IM-311 form. 

Complete the following steps.

• Determine if the sanctioned individual is serving his/her first sanction or if the individual has served at least 3 months for a second sanction or six months for a third or higher sanction.  If the sanction period for a second, third, or subsequent sanction has not been served, follow current procedure to reject the individual due to the sanction.  If the sanction period has been served, continue with the next step.

• Print the Interview Summary (FA-102) and leave the application in the controlled flow until verification of compliance is received from DWD, or until the 30th day following application. 

• Do not remove the sanction from the Sanction/ Disqualification screen (FMAM). 

• If other verification is needed, flow to the outstanding verification screen and print the FA-325.  Do not flow forward from that screen.  Flowing forward will cause the controlled flow to end and the application to be rejected.

• If the individual complies with DWD timely, within the first 30 days for initial or nontimely applications, or by the last day of the certification for timely applications, end the sanction on the FMAM screen, using the month prior to application as the end date.  Complete the controlled flow.  If other verification is provided, authorize benefits from the date of application for initial applications.  If the application is a nontimely or timely application, issue full month's benefits for the first month of the new certification.  If other verification is not provided, the application pends until verification is provided or until it is rejected the night of the 60th day.

• If the individual does not comply with DWD timely, on the 30th day for initial and non timely application and by the end of the current certification period for timely application, complete the controlled flow.  FAMIS rejects the application if it is a one person EU.  If there are other EU members and other verification is provided, FAMIS rejects the individual and approves the remaining EU members. If other verification is not provided, the application pends until verification is provided or until it is rejected the night of the 60th day.

The screen display and re-referral to DWD a second time is changed.  The entire process is shown below.

• The worker enters work assessment code 22 MAN.

• The individual is electronically referred to DWD overnight 

• The individual does not comply with DWD.  DWD sends the non-compliance data electronically and the individual's work assessment status changes to MNC.  The conciliation process begins.

NOTE: If no further action is taken, the sanction is imposed when the adverse action expires. 

• If the individual contacts the worker and agrees to go to DWD during the conciliation or adverse action period, the worker enters work assessment code 25.  The individual's status remains MNC.

NOTE: The conciliation process continues until compliance data is received from DWD.  If compliance data is not received by the end of the adverse action time period from DWD the sanction is imposed. 

• DWD electronically notifies Family Support Division (FSD) that the individual has complied at which time the individual's work assessment code is automatically set back to 22, status is MAN, and code C appears in the good cause field. 

• DWD electronically notifies FSD if the individual again fails to comply.  The individual's status is changed to MNC and the C code is removed from the good cause field.  The conciliation process begins again. 

• Review this memorandum with all appropriate staff.