Section 121.162  Program Requirements

a)         Local office staff are to advise nonexempt individuals of Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSE&T) requirements at application or whenever an exempt individual becomes nonexempt.  The local office shall explain the assessment process and Employability Plan; available programs and activity requirements; support services; what qualifies as an acceptable employer contact and a "good faith" effort for making a job contact; exemption criteria; Earnfare payments; maximum Earnfare payment amounts if program is available; FS sanction; Transitional Assistance sanction; good cause; and conciliation.

                        All nonexempt individuals must comply with the following requirements:

1)         FSE&T activities such as Assessment, Employability Plan (EP) Development, and all component activities;

2)         respond to job referrals;

3)         accept a bona fide offer of suitable employment;

4)         continue employment;

5)         not voluntarily reduce earnings; and

6)         register with and appear for interviews through DES.

b)         The Department shall make an assessment of all nonexempt individual's employability.  In order to assign an individual to the appropriate activity, information shall be collected on background, educational level, literacy, job training, work history, factors affecting employment and supportive services.  The Department shall complete an assessment of employability whenever a nonexempt individual's request for food stamps is approved; an exempt individual becomes nonexempt; or an exempt individual volunteers for FSE&T; any time it is necessary to determine the individual's suitability for a different activity, before  assignment to a different activity; and upon the individual's request.

1)         The individual will be assigned to the appropriate activity based on the  assessment and the eligibility criteria for each FSE&T activity.  The Department shall explain activity-specific requirements.

2)         Individuals will be referred to the Department of Employment Security (DES) if they are not already registered with DES.  If an individual fails, without good cause, to register with DES as a condition of the assessment process, sanction procedures will be started.

c)         The local office and the individual shall establish a written Employability Plan (EP) based on the information obtained during the assessment.  The plan will contain the specific employment goals; the FSE&T activity assignment; the supportive services that must be provided or arranged in order to help the individual take part in the activity and obtain the employment goals; a statement that the supportive services have been provided by the Department or otherwise arranged, including an explanation of the specific arrangements and services provided.

d)         After assessment, individuals in FSE&T shall take part in one or more of the following activities:

1)         Basic Education;

2)         Vocational Training;

3)         Job Readiness;

4)         Job Search;

5)         Work Experience;

6)         Earnfare;

7)         Community Work.

(Source:  Amended at 26 Ill. Reg. 13530, effective September 3, 2002)