• METP is transferred to the Department of Economic Development, Division of Workforce Development (DWD).

• Direct Job Placement (DJP) for food stamp participants is ended.  Staff must not refer food stamp participants directly to employers for possible employment.

• Adult Basic Education (ABE) is no longer an METP activity.

• Missouri Jobs Employment and Training (MJET) is ended.

The Family Support Division (FSD) no longer contracts with the Private Industry Councils in St. Charles County and Southeast Missouri to administer the Food Stamp MJET Program.

Also effective with the ending of the Food Stamp DJP Program, do not enter DJP food stamp information into the JOBS system.

Food Stamp Policy regarding METP is revised to reflect these changes and work registration exemption and exclusion changes which will be addressed in another memorandum.  The Food Stamp Manual is being revised to reflect these changes.  The changes are outlined below.

Referral Process

The referral of food stamp mandatory and voluntary work registrants to DWD remains the same.  At application and when a change is reported that is required to be reported or required to be acted on, workers continue to assess and assign the most appropriate work assessment code to all food stamp applicants/recipients ages 16 to 60.  Upon approval, individuals with a work assessment code of 22 (mandatory) and 24 (volunteer) are electronically referred to DWD.  DWD then randomly selects a pool of individuals for call-in.  Those selected are sent a call-in letter.  Returned DWD call-in letters are no longer returned to county offices for follow-up since most EUs are subject to simplified reporting and are not required to report address changes.

ABAWD Mandatory Work Registrants

All mandatory work registrants, including ABAWDs are referred to DWD.  Effective immediately, code all non-exempt and non-excluded ABAWDs 22.  Code 98 is no longer applicable.

Participation in Job Search and Job Search Training does not meet the work requirement.  Any months in which an individual completes Job Search and Job Search Training are considered non-work months unless the individual is also working 20 hours per week.  Verify the number of hours of work when determining whether or not the individual is meeting the work requirement.

DWD Determines Individual May Meet a Work Registration Exemption or Exclusion

When completing the employment assessment with the participant, the DWD worker may identify circumstances, which could cause the participant to meet a work registration exemption or exclusion.  FSD is electronically notified of this possibility.  The individual’s work assessment code is automatically changed to 18, the Status code is changed to EXC, and "Y" is entered in the Good Cause field on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen.  A reminder is sent to the worker.  The reminder states "Check Status Employment Assessment" along with one of the following descriptions:

• Individual caring for a child under age 6.

• Individual is mentally or physically disabled.

• Individual is now over age 60.

• Indiv reqd to care for ill/incapacitated prsn.

• Individual working 30 hours or more per week.

• Individual is a part or full-time student.

• Individual is receiving Unemployment Comp.

• Indiv is in a drug or alcohol treatment prgm.

• Indiv in second/third trimester of pregnancy.

• Indiv has no personal/public transportation.

• Indiv lacks childcare or CC cost is excessive.

• Individual has multiple impediments.

NOTE: It is possible the individual may still be considered a mandatory participant.  If so, it is appropriate to enter work assessment code 22.  The individual will be referred back to DWD.

DWD continues to electronically notify FSD when participants fail to comply when called-in or fail to comply with Job Search or Job Search Training.  FAMIS automatically sends the conciliation notice to those who did not comply with METP.  If, at the end of ten days, the worker has not entered a good cause code on the Supportive Services Maintenance (FM6F) screen, FAMIS sends a notice of adverse action.  If a good cause code is not entered within ten days, the individual is removed or the case closed when the notice of adverse action expires and a sanction is imposed.

Rereferral to DWD While in Conciliation

Effective July 1, a new work assessment code is created in FAMIS and is used to refer back to DWD, participants determined by DWD to be in non-compliance with work registration activity who following the start of conciliation, wish to comply with DWD.  The new code is 25 and is defined as Rereferral to DWD.  Go to the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen and change the work assessment code to 25.  The work assessment code remains 25 until the next certification/recertification or change in circumstances.  Legacy counties continue to refer individuals back to DWD who wish to comply using form IM-311.

The file going to DWD is processed overnight.  In addition to changing the work assessment code to 25, workers must also complete the IM-311 to send with the participant if the participant plans to go to the DWD office the same day the code is changed.  Work assessment code must be entered into the system in order for the system to take the correct action when the compliance notice is returned to FSD by DWD.

Participant in Conciliation Complies

FSD is electronically notified when a participant complies with DWD after being re-referred to DWD using code 25.  The action required depends on the stage of conciliation.  A new code, Code C--compliance, is created and used in the Good Cause field on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen.  When the compliance code is received and if the conciliation or adverse action period has not expired, Code C is automatically entered in the Good Cause field and the status code is changed from "MNC" to "MAN" on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen.  The conciliation or adverse action is ended.

EXAMPLE: Sheila was called in by DWD on June 3, 2003.  Sheila did not respond to the call-in letter.  On June 4, 2003, the non-compliance is reported on the electronic file to FSD from DWD.  On June 5, 2003, the conciliation notice is sent to Sheila.  On June 12, Sheila contacts her worker and states she would like to go to DWD to complete her employment and training activity.  (NOTE: If Sheila indicates she will go to DWD today, she is given an IM-311 to take with her when she goes to DWD.)  The worker enters Work Assessment code 25 on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen.  Sheila is referred back to DWD electronically when the June 13 file is processed on June 12.  On June 17 a notice of adverse action is sent to Sheila.  On June 25 the compliance code is returned electronically to FSD.  Code C is automatically entered on the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen in the Good Cause field and MAN in the Status field.  The adverse action is ended for Sheila.

EXAMPLE: The individual complies on the last day of the adverse action period.  Contact the local DWD office to determine when the individual actually complied.  If compliance occurred before the expiration of the notice of adverse action, end the sanction.  The supervisor must cancel close the case if the sanction resulted in a case closing.  To add the individual back to an active case, go to the Employment Assessment (FMMS) screen and change the good cause code to "y".  Go to the Sanction/Disqualification (FMAM) screen and delete the sanction following instructions outlined in Deleting a Sanction or Disqualification user guide.

NOTE: If the participant does not comply until after the adverse action is expired and the sanction is imposed, the sanction cannot be ended.

Transportation Payments

Effective August 1, 2003, workers cannot authorize transportation payments to food stamp participants for expenses incurred while participating in Direct Job Placement and ABE.  Any outstanding payments must be authorized prior to August 1.

Transportation checks for DWD participants continue to be an automated process.  DWD authorizes the payments and checks are issued weekly.  When questions arise regarding a transportation reimbursement check, FAMIS counties should first check Supportive Services Maintenance (FM6F).

Hearings

The Family Support Division continues to conduct METP related hearings.  It may be necessary to include DWD staff in the hearing.

Application for Benefits

If an individual seeking assistance from DWD indicates they wish to apply for Temporary Assistance, Parents Fair Share, MC+, Medical Assistance for Families, Food Stamps, Vocational Rehabilitation, or Child Care, an Application for Benefits will be completed.  If the DWD office is co-located with the FSD office, the application will be walked to the correct office.  If not co-located, the application will be faxed to the correct FSD office.

Obsolete Forms

As a result of the changes outlined in this memorandum, the following forms are now obsolete and should no longer be used:

• IM-19 - Request for Participant Reimbursement
• IM-101A - ABE Referral Form
• IM-101B - JTPA Referral
• IM-101C - Food Stamp Expense Voucher

Review this memorandum with all appropriate staff.

• Use work registration code 25 to re-refer individuals who wish to comply while in conciliation and during the adverse action period to DWD.

• Stop using IM-19, IM-101A, IM-101B, and IM-101C.

• Update the Forms Manual.