MEMORANDUM

DISCUSSION:

Missouri Employment and Training Program (METP) as introduced in Email Memo #38 dated April 30, 2014 is a volunteer program. This memorandum discusses the following:

• METP Program Information
• Work Registration Coding for Volunteers
• METP Sanctions
• Sanctions for Work Requirements
• Food stamp Sanction based on Temporary Assistance (TA) non-compliance with case management

METP PROGRAM INFORMATION

During all Food Stamp application interviews with individuals age 16 through 59 discuss the METP and provide the new IM-4 METP for information if the applicant is in the office. The new pamphlet includes the Missouri Extension Business Development (BDP) program’s toll free number which should be provided to any participant requesting to volunteer. Individuals requesting to volunteer will be automatically referred to the METP at approval. Ensure a current phone number (if one is available) is recorded for individuals requesting to participate in the METP on the individuals’ Personal Details (PRSNDTL) screen.

WORK REGISTRATION CODING FOR VOLUNTEERS

Continue to assess all applicants for work registration. Enter the appropriate code on the Employment Assessment (EMPLOY/FMMS) screen. When a mandatory or exempt individual requests to volunteer for METP use the following employment assessment codes:

• Mandatory Participant-code 22 with status code  MIV (Mandatory Immediate Volunteer)

  Or

• Exempt Participant-code 24 with status code EIV (Exempt Immediate Volunteer)

Note: Individuals must be assigned the correct Employment Assessment code as the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) requires accurate reporting of the number of participants.

Temporary Assistance participants are not allowed to participate in the METP. Refer TA participants to the Missouri Work Assistance program.

METP SANCTIONS

The METP is now self-initiated and sanctions will not apply. End current METP sanctions (type MTP on the Sanction/Disqualification (SANDISQ/FMAM)) screen as follows:

• First sanctions may be ended when contact is made with the client.
• Second sanctions may be ended if the client has served the required 3 months timeframe when contact is made.
• Third sanctions may be ended if the client has served the required 6 months timeframe when contact is made.

NOTE:  Sanctions may be ended when contact is made, but must be ended at the next certification or recertification.

On the Sanction/Disqualification (SANDISQ/FMAM) screen enter CWP (Compliance with Policy) in the RSN field. Enter the date of contact as the compliance date. Make a comment that the METP program became self-initiated and the sanction is ended.

SANCTIONS FOR WORK REQUIREMENTS

The policy for sanctioning individuals who do not comply with work requirements by;

• voluntarily quitting a job,
• reducing hours worked or
• refusing an offer of suitable employment

has not changed.

First, second and third sanctions are required by federal regulations. Under federal regulations states have the option to extend the length of sanctions. Missouri chose the option to sanction for the minimum length of time or until compliance whichever is longer. When METP was a mandatory program, an individual could still be mandatory but in compliance and had to serve the minimum length of the sanction.

Ending a sanction by meeting compliance for a voluntary job quit, reduced hours worked or refusal of an offer of suitable employment will also meet an exemption from work requirements, therefore being compliant (becoming exempt) will end the work requirement sanction regardless of the time the individual has been sanctioned.

Food stamp Sanction based on TA non-compliance with case management

Because the METP is now a volunteer program, a TA participant who is also a mandatory work registrant cannot be sanctioned from Food Stamps if they fail to comply with TA case management. The policy of prohibiting an increase in Food Stamp benefits due to a TA sanction has not changed. The difference between the old grant amount and the new grant amount is still entered as income source code RP-REDUCTION-REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH PROGRAM REQ for the Food Stamp program.

The flowchart Food Stamp Sanctioning Process for TA Sanctioned Individuals-FSD Case Management is revised.

The following is a list of obsolete procedure guides:

• Ending Food Stamp Noncompliance With A Program Requirement
• METP/DWD Process
• METP Sanctioning Process
• Prohibition In Increasing Food Stamp Benefits
• Resolving METP Sanction

NECESSARY ACTION:

• Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

AC/mw