Section 121.160  Persons Required to Participate

a)         All individuals receiving food stamps who are not exempt will be required to participate in the Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSE&T) program, to the extent resources are available.  This includes, in priority order:

1)         adults who receive food stamps and who volunteer or are court-ordered. If resources are available, these individuals may be required to participate in other Food Stamp Employment and Training activities;

2)         exempt and nonexempt individuals ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction to participate in Earnfare.  Receipt of food stamps is not an eligibility requirement for individuals ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction who are non-custodial parents of TANF children;

3)         all other nonexempt food stamp recipients not receiving TANF or Refugee Assistance;

4)         recipients of Transitional Assistance;

5)         nonexempt clients receiving Family and Children Assistance may be required to participate in the Food Stamp Employment and Training program.  See 89 Ill. Adm. Code 112.70 through 112.76 for requirements for these clients; and

6)         individuals who are homeless.

b)         Those individuals exempt from the Food Stamp Employment and Training program are those individuals who are (however, individuals may volunteer to participate):

1)         under age 18 or over age 50;

2)         medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment;

3)         pregnant;

4)         a student enrolled at least half time;

5)         a member of a household responsible for a dependent child;

6)         responsible for the care of an incapacitated person;

7)         participating in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program;

8)         receiving weekly earnings of at least the federal minimum wage times 30 hours; or

9)         receiving Unemployment Insurance.

(Source:  Amended at 22 Ill. Reg. 19787, effective October 28, 1998)