Florida Administrative Code › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES › 65A - Economic Self-Sufficiency Program › Chapter 65A-1 - PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Section 65A-1.605 - Food Assistance Employment and Training

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The Food Assistance Employment and
				Training Program is administered in accordance with the requirements of
				7 C.F.R. §
										273.7,
				P.L.
				104-193, The Personal Responsibility and Work
				Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and
				P.L.
				107-171, Food Stamp Reauthorization Act of
				2002.
(2) Each member of the
				assistance group (AG), who does not meet an exemption in accordance with
				7 C.F.R. §
										273.7(b)(1), must work
				register for the Food Assistance Program as a condition of eligibility for the
				receipt of food assistance. If a head of household refuses to comply with Food
				Assistance Program requirements without good cause at initial application or
				reapplication, the application will be denied for that reason. The eligibility
				specialist will use the Food Stamp Work Registration Notice, CF-ES 2095,
				01/2003, incorporated by reference, to work register each nonexempt member of
				the AG for the Food Assistance Program and to explain the employment and
				training requirements and possible penalties for noncompliance without good
				cause. Nonexempt head of households and AG members will be referred to the
				Regional Workforce Board (RWB) Service Center or contract provider when
				required to participate in assigned Food Assistance Program employment and
				training activities.
(3) A head of
				household or AG member(s) who refuses or fails to comply with Food Assistance
				Employment and Training Program requirements without good cause is ineligible
				to receive food assistance. The eligibility specialist will determine whether
				the individual meets an exemption in accordance with
				7 C.F.R. §
										273.7(b), or if good cause
				for noncompliance exists in accordance with
				7 C.F.R. §
										273.7(i). If not exempt, and
				good cause is not established, action will be taken to deny approval or to
				impose a food assistance penalty in accordance with
				7 C.F.R. §
										273.7(f). When the head of
				household is noncompliant with Food Assistance Employment and Training Program
				requirements, the minimum Food Assistance Employment and Training Program
				penalty period will apply to the entire AG. If at the end of the minimum
				penalty period the head of household is still noncompliant, or does not meet a
				Food Assistance Employment and Training Program exemption, the head of
				household will remain ineligible, but other members of the AG may reapply. If
				the noncompliant AG member is not the head of household, the penalty will only
				apply to that AG member until the individual serves the minimum penalty period
				or complies, whichever is later, or becomes exempt. The following Food
				Assistance Program penalties for non-compliance with Food Assistance Employment
				and Training Program requirements are applied.
(a) For the first noncompliance, food
				assistance benefits shall be terminated for a minimum of one month, or until
				compliance with Food Assistance Employment and Training Program requirements,
				whichever is later, or the noncompliant AG member meets an exemption.
(b) For the second noncompliance, food
				assistance benefits shall be terminated for a minimum of three consecutive
				months, or until compliance with Food Assistance Employment and Training
				Program requirements, whichever is later, or the noncompliant AG member meets
				an exemption.
(c) For the third
				noncompliance, food assistance benefits shall be terminated for a minimum of
				six consecutive months, or until compliance with Food Assistance Employment and
				Training Program requirements, whichever is later, or the noncompliant AG
				member meets an exemption.
(d)
				Disqualification shall follow the AG member who was noncompliant. Assistance
				group ineligibility results when a disqualified individual joins a new AG as
				its head of household. The minimum penalty period of AG ineligibility referred
				to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) above shall apply, as appropriate. If a
				disqualified individual joins the new AG as a member, only the disqualified AG
				member shall be ineligible for the remainder of the penalty period or the
				individual complies, whichever is later, or becomes exempt from Food Assistance
				Employment and Training Program requirements.
(e) Food Assistance Program AG members who
				are subject to and determined to meet the work requirements or alternative
				requirement plan requirements under the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) Program
				will also meet Food Assistance Employment and Training Program requirements in
				accordance with 7 C.F.R.
				§
											273.11(k). If the AG
				member is penalized for failure to meet TCA Program requirements, the
				eligibility specialist must determine if the AG member meets a Food Assistance
				Employment and Training Program exemption. If the noncompliant AG member does
				not meet an exemption, Food Assistance Employment and Training Program
				penalties specified in this rule will be applied.