A-1830, ESP Actions

Revision 04-3; Effective April 1, 2004

A—1831 Action in Full Service Choices Counties or E&T Counties

Revision 23-3; Effective July 1, 2023

TANF

For households in full service Choices counties:

  • provide an explanation of:
    • the Choices program;
    • the supportive services available such as child care, help with transportation expenses related to job search or training, Texas Health Steps and family planning;
    • the person's rights and responsibilities;
    • how both exempt and nonexempt recipients  may voluntarily participate and what this means for state time-limited benefits;
    • the full-family sanction for noncooperation for a nonexempt person;
    • transitional childcare and Medicaid; and
    • the requirement to provide proof of identity and work eligibility when requested by HHSC or a Choices provider, and the types of documents accepted as proof. Form H2580, TANF Employment Services Notice, lists examples of proof.

Explain these policies again at periodic review unless the caretaker or second parent show an open Choices case in TIERS inquiry.

Provide a completed Form H2580 for each caretaker and second parent. At the application interview, also provide Form H2580 to the TANF EDG name.

SNAP

Provide a consolidated written notice of the SNAP work requirements, known as SNAP Work Rules, to all non-exempt SNAP work registrants at:

  • certification;
  • recertification; or 
  • a change when a household member becomes subject to SNAP work requirements, such as adding a new person to the household or a person in the household turns 18.  

The SNAP Work Rules tells each non-exempt SNAP work registrant which work requirements pertain to them, does not apply to persons exempt from Employment and Training (E&T), and is not provided to persons exempt from E&T.  

For households in SNAP E&T counties:

  • review TIERS correspondences and confirm the household receives the SNAP Work Rules information, included within their TF0001, Notice of Case Action; 
  • use the SNAP Work Rules — Verbal Informing Script in the related policy section for E&T procedures to verbally explain each registrant’s rights and responsibilities; and
  • inform households with members exempt from E&T and of age to participate, that they may voluntarily participate in the E&T Program as described in the related policy about exempt members volunteering to participate in E&T. 

If an integrated interview is conducted for a household applying for TANF and SNAP, and the SNAP application is certified while the TANF application remains pending, TIERS assigns SNAP work registration Code Q (Registered with Choices), as if the person were receiving TANF. After staff makes the TANF decision, TIERS changes the SNAP work registration code, if necessary. If a person is registered for SNAP E&T, confirm the household receives the SNAP Work Rules information generated by TIERS within their TF0001, Notice of Case Action.

Related Policy 

E&T Procedures, A-1822
Exempt Members Volunteering to Participate in E&T, A-1822.2
State Time Limits, A-2500

A—1831.1 Referral Processes

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF

Advisors in full service Choices counties refer TANF applicants to a workforce orientation. This is a separate eligibility requirement from Choices program participation. See Workforce Orientation, A-2200, for more information.

HHSC sends a daily electronic file of all TANF recipients to Choices staff when:

  • the TANF EDG is certified; or
  • a TANF recipient's work registration code changes.

Non-exempt TANF recipients in full service Choices counties must participate in employment service activities when notified by Choices staff.

SNAP

HHSC sends a daily electronic file of all SNAP recipients to E&T staff when:

  • the SNAP EDG is certified; or
  • a SNAP recipient's work registration code changes.

E&T staff use this electronic file to register individuals with TWC when the individual:

  • lives in an E&T county; and
  • is a non-exempt registrant.

Registration is effective for 12 months. At the end of each 12-month period, TWC renews the registrant’s status if the individual is:

  • active;
  • living in an E&T county; and
  • a non-exempt registrant, not identified as an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD).

A—1831.1.1 Choices Outreach

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF

TANF or TANF-SP recipients in full service Choices counties whose information is transmitted to the TWC through the daily electronic file may be outreached for Choices services.

Local Workforce Development Boards and TWC access various types of education, training and employment services from local providers, including other state agencies. Services vary depending on an individual's specific needs and the availability of programs in the local area.

A—1831.1.2 ABAWD Referral Process

Revision 16-2; Effective April 1, 2016

SNAP

An ABAWD is an individual age 18 up to age 50 who:

  • is physically and mentally able to work at least an average of 20 hours per week;
  • is not a member of a SNAP EDG where a household member on the SNAP EDG is under age 18; and
  • is not pregnant.

The ABAWD designation:

  • is applied the month after an individual turns age 18; and
  • is no longer applied beginning with the month when an individual turns age 50.

HHSC sends a daily electronic file of all SNAP recipients, including ABAWDs, to E&T staff. After receiving the electronic file, E&T staff may contact local HHSC staff to obtain SNAP allotment amounts and the number of ABAWDs in the SNAP household.

E&T staff use information provided on the electronic file to outreach the ABAWD for E&T services. If the ABAWD completes the first two weeks of participation in an allowable activity, E&T staff return Form H1822, ABAWD E&T Work Requirement Verification, to the advisor verifying the ABAWD:

  • now meets the SNAP ABAWD work requirement; or
  • being recertified continues to meet the work requirement.

The advisor must process a change in "work requirement status" as required per A-1940, SNAP ABAWD Work Requirements, if work status changes.

After Form H1822 verifies participation, it is assumed to continue unless:

  • E&T staff send Form H1816, SNAP E&T Noncompliance Report, notifying the advisor of noncompliance;
  • the individual has at least a one-month break in SNAP benefits; or
  • the individual reports he no longer participates.

Note: See A-1840, Noncompliance with ESP.

At recertification, HHSC staff must provide Form H1822 to the ABAWD to verify participation during the recertification process. The ABAWD must then take the form to the local workforce center for E&T staff to complete. The ABAWD or E&T staff returns the completed Form 1822 to HHSC.

A—1831.2 Individual Participation Requirements

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF and SNAP

To comply with participation requirements, the individual must:

  • provide supplemental information when requested;
  • appear for an interview upon request; and
  • report for job interviews and accept an offer of suitable employment.

Note: Streamlined reporting households must respond as directed to all notices and letters from the employment program even if employed.

TANF

To comply with participation requirements, the individual must also:

  • participate in activities listed in the employability plan, including keeping appointments, attending training or other education classes, and participating in work experience and job search activities; and
  • not voluntarily leave a job unless he has good cause (as interpreted under the Texas unemployment insurance laws).

Exception: Individuals coded P are only required to report their hours.

Individuals may choose to voluntarily withdraw from TANF. Accept Form H1802, Voluntary Withdrawal from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), as an individual's intent to withdraw from TANF. When a local eligibility determination office receives a signed Form H1802, follow change procedures in B-600 to:

  • process the TANF denial, and
  • make changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EDG, if applicable.

When a request to voluntarily withdraw from TANF is received in the same month as a Choices noncooperation, the advisor must send Form TF0001, Notice of Case Action, informing the household of the Choices noncooperation. Open a Choices penalty as listed in A-2144, Imposing a Penalty. The household must reapply in pay for performance.

Note: If Form H1802 sent by the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) has not been processed and the individual does not want to withdraw from TANF, notify the LWDB using Form H2583, Choices Information Transmittal, that the individual remains certified for TANF.

Explore the appropriate medical program for each household member. Advisors must provide continuous Medicaid coverage for

  • pregnant women and
  • children under age one who are eligible through the month of their first birthday.

SNAP

To cooperate with participation requirements, the individual must also cooperate with assigned E&T activities.

A—1832 Action in Minimum Service Choices Counties or Non-E&T Counties

Revision 23-3; Effective July 1, 2023

TANF

In minimum service Choices counties, provide the person a general explanation of:

  • employment services available in the area, such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), local Workforce Solutions offices, or Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitative services;
  • Choices services (if available);
  • available supportive services, such as subsidized child care through the local Workforce Development Board; and
  • transitional child care and Medicaid.

SNAP

In non-E&T counties, provide the person a general explanation of:

  • the types of employment services available in the area, such as those provided through WIOA, local Workforce Solutions Offices, or Texas Workforce Commission Vocational Rehabilitative Services; and
  • individual rights and responsibilities outlined in related policy.

Ensure the household receives the SNAP Work Rules information that is included in their TF0001, Notice of Case Action. The SNAP Work Rules information tells each person subject to the work rules which requirements pertain to them. Persons exempt from E&T do not receive the SNAP Work Rules information, and E&T exempt households do not receive work rules information at all.

Related Policy 

Individual Responsibilities, A-1832.1

A—1832.1 Individual Responsibilities

Revision 12-3; Effective July 1, 2012

TANF

An individual living in a minimum service Choices county does not have to meet any employment services requirements. Advise the household that they

  • are exempt from Choices program requirements;
  • may choose whether to participate in Choices services offered to them; and
  • will not be penalized for noncompliance if they participate and later stop participating.

See A-2530 for state time limit counting policies for individuals who live in minimum service Choices counties.

SNAP

An individual living in a non-E&T county

  • is subject to usual registration requirements;
  • must comply with E&T if the county becomes an E&T county and the registrant is contacted; and
  • must accept or continue suitable employment, when offered, even if not referred by E&T staff.