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3400 Mandatory Employment & Training (E&T)

SNAP Manual 07/01/2026 NOTE: This section was previously titled Compliance with General Work Requirements. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 requires all states to operate an Employment and Training (E&T) Program to gain skills, training, work, or experience that will increase their ability to obtain regular employment and meet State or local workforce needs. In Arkansas, it is mandatory that any SNAP recipient who is not exempt from the General Work Requirements participate in Employment and Training to be eligible for SNAP benefits. Individuals subject to the General Work Requirements who do not qualify for an exemption must participate in Mandatory E&T. This requirement holds true even for those who meet an exemption from the Requirement to Work (RTW) under SNAP 3502. SNAP participants who are subject to the General Work Requirements and who fail or refuse to participate in the SNAP E&T Program may be disqualified. See SNAP 3401 regarding non-compliance with the General Work Requirements. The State agency is responsible for screening each individual to determine if it is appropriate to refer him or her to the E&T program. If the State agency determines the individual is required to participate in an E&T program, the State agency must provide the participant with a written notice and a comprehensive oral explanation. A Notification of SNAP Work Requirements (DCO-0260) will be sent to the household to serve as the individual’s written explanation and to explain the E&T Program. The written explanation does not relieve the agency of the requirement to provide an oral explanation at interview. The State agency must refer participants to E&T, and all participants must receive both case management services and be enrolled in at least one (1) E&T component while participating in the program. However, clients may participate in more than one (1) component (see Appendix F). The State agency must determine the specific order in which a participant will receive program elements such as orientation, assessment, case management and various E&T components. The State agency must also provide good cause for mandatory E&T participants if there is not an available and appropriate E&T opening. This form of good cause is only for mandatory E&T and will not prevent a time-limited participant from accruing a countable month if they did not participate in another qualifying activity. See SNAP 3500. Good cause information can be found in SNAP 3411. Individuals subject to mandatory E&T participation who do not meet good cause criteria will be systematically referred to the E&T Program, creating a task in SNAP Works, where E&T participation is managed by both E&T Providers and the SNAP E&T Unit. Referrals will be made at application (initial and renewal), reinstatement, and any reported change where a household member has become subject to the General Work Requirement. Eligibility staff must ensure that the proper characteristics are assigned to the individual when eligibility is determined and before authorization to allow for correct referral. See Appendix CC for an explanation of work participation characteristics. NOTE: This code will also notify SNAP Works of changes in SNAP eligibility. E&T Providers will not be reimbursed for costs incurred by an E&T Program participant who is no longer participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This information will be sent to SNAP Works to notify