TEN 28-22 (corrected).pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE NO. 28-22 DATE June 9 2023 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS AMERICAN JOB CENTER DIRECTORS NATIONAL FARMWORKER JOBS PROGRAM GRANTEES INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM GRANTEES YOUTHBUILD GRANTEES WORK OPPORTUNITY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES GRANTEES FROM BRENT PARTON Acting Assistant Secretary SUBJECT Partnering with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP Agencies to Support Able-bodied Adults as the Public Health Emergency Ends 1.Purpose. To encourage state local and community workforce development grantees to partner with agencies that administer SNAP to provide access to work and job training for individuals whose SNAP benefits are time-limited. 2.Action Requested. State workforce agencies state and local workforce development boards and competitive grantees should review their outreach and recruitment strategies to ensure that SNAP beneficiaries are aware of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA title I programs. State workforce agencies and state and local workforce development boards should coordinate communications and services with agencies administering SNAP. 3.Summary and Background. Summary The Department of Labor s Employment and Training Administration ETA and the Department of Agriculture s Food and Nutrition Service FNS are partnering to encourage SNAP agencies and state and local workforce agencies to develop shared strategies that will better connect SNAP participants particularly those who are subject to time-limited benefits to employment and training opportunities through programs in American Job Centers. Background In March 2020 the Families First Coronavirus Response Act temporarily suspended the time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents ABAWDs to access SNAP benefits. Typically these individuals can only receive SNAP benefits for a total of three months in any 36-month period unless they are working or participating in an employment and training activity for 80 hours per month or complying with a workfare program. Beginning July 1 2023 the three-month time limit on SNAP benefits will be reinstated and many of these individuals may lose access to SNAP benefits on October 1 2 2023 unless they obtain satisfactory employment or participate in a qualifying job training or workforce program. ETA and FNS share a common goal to help people particularly those in historically underserved communities find sustainable employment. Both WIOA and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended underscore the importance of connecting low-income and other historically underserved individuals to meaningful training activities breaking down barriers which may otherwise limit their success in the workforce. 4. Connecting SNAP Beneficiaries to Work. The attached letter from ETA and FNS encourages agencies and organizations that administer employment and training programs under WIOA title I or the Trade Act to conduct outreach to SNAP beneficiaries to support their employment or career advancement. Agencies and programs are also encouraged to coordinate messaging and recruitment efforts with SNAP agencies in order to reach individuals who are searching for work and who may need to work or be enrolled in training to maintain eligibility for SNAP benefits. While all employment and training programs are encouraged to conduct outreach to potential participants including those receiving SNAP benefits the WIOA Adult and Youth programs are particularly well positioned to serve SNAP beneficiaries. The WIOA Adult program requires that individuals receiving public benefits receive priority of service See Training and Employment Guidance Letter TEGL No. 07-20 and the WIOA Youth program prioritizes services to youth and young adults fac ing any of the several barriers to employment See TEGL No. 09-22 for guidance on outreach to and quality services for the Youth program. All states operate a SNAP Employment and Training SNAP E T program often in partnership with a workforce agency. The SNAP E T program helps SNAP participants gain the skills training and work experience they need to enter reenter or remain in the workforce. More information about SNAP E T is available at https www.fns.usda.gov snap-et. 5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office. 6. References. TEGL No. 07-20 Effective Implementation of Priority of Service Provisions for Most in Need Individuals in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA Adult Program issued November 24 2020 https www.dol.gov agencies eta advisories training-and-employment-guidance- letter-no-07-20 TEGL No. 09-22 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Youth Formula Program Guidance issued March 2 2023 https www.dol.gov agencies eta advisories tegl-09 -22 and USDA SNAP to Skills technical assistance on the SNAP E T program - https snaptoskills.fns.usda.gov 7. Attachment. Dear Colleague Letter Partnering to Support Able-bodied Adults through the Public Workforce System as the Public Health Emergency Ends SUBJECT Partnering to Support Able-bodied Adults through the Public Workforce System as the Public Health Emergency Ends DATE June 8 2023 TO Commissioners and Directors of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program State Workforce Administrators WIOA Liaisons Workforce Development Boards American Job Center Programs Dear Colleagues In response to the end of the public health emergency the U.S. Department of Agriculture s Food and Nutrition Service FNS and the U.S. Department of Labor s Employment and Training Administration ETA are partnering to encourage State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP agencies and State and local workforce agencies and boards to develop shared strategies that will better connect SNAP participants particularly those who are subject to time limited benefits to employment and training opportunities through programs in American Job Centers AJCs . In March 2020 Congress passed and the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act FFCRA which temporarily suspended the SNAP time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents ABAWDs . Normally ABAWDs may only participate in SNAP for three months in any 36-month period unless they are working or participating in an employment and training activity for 80 hours per month or complying with a workfare program. This suspension of the time limit will expire on June 30 2023 and many of these individuals may lose benefits on October 1 2023 unless they obtain satisfactory employment or participate in a qualifying job training or workforce program. FNS and ETA share a common goal to help people particularly those in historically underserved communities which include many SNAP participants find sustainable employment. Both the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act WIOA and the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended underscore the importance of connecting low-income and other historically underserved individuals to meaningful training activities breaking down barriers which may otherwise limit their success in the workforce. One resource available to States to help people who will become subject to the SNAP time limit maintain their SNAP eligibility is the SNAP Employment and Training E T Program which is intended to help SNAP participants gain skills training or work experience to help them secure a good job and reduce their need for nutrition assistance. FNS is committed to helping States expand and strengthen their existing E T programs and to think strategically about the role other workforce development programs can play in responding to the needs of people subject to the SNAP time limit ABAWDs . Additionally WIOA Title I services offered through the AJCs can be a particularly important resource for ABAWDs. Participation in workforce programs under WIOA Title I is considered a qualifying activity for the purposes of helping ABAWDs maintain SNAP eligibility. Furthermore expanding SNAP participants access to employment and training services such as those offered under WIOA Title I and the Trade Act is critical to helping them gain access to good jobs and greater economic security in the long term. The SNAP E T and WIOA Title I programs provide important access and opportunities to historically underserved job seekers including individuals with barriers to employment to prepare for obtain retain and advance in high-quality jobs and in-demand careers. FNS and ETA encourage you join us in this effort to ensure that SNAP participants can obtain the skills and credentials needed to secure employment and increase their earnings. We encourage you to reach out to us or your FNS or ETA representatives to learn more about how to develop shared workforce strategies to support time-limited recipients. Sincerely Stacy Dean Deputy Under Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition and Consumer Services Brent Parton Acting Assistant Secretary U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration