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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 3000 3413 Applying Sanctions at Voluntary Quit or Reduction of Work Hours

3400 Mandatory Employment & Training (E&T) 3413 Applying Sanctions at Voluntary Quit or Reduction of Work Hours SNAP Manual 07/01/2026 When a loss of earned income is reported at initial application, renewal, or as a reported change the worker must determine if sanctions are to be applied. Sanctions may be applicable when a household member voluntarily quits a job within thirty (30) days of the date of application or at any time while the individual is participating in the program.  NOTE: A federal, state or local government employee dismissed from a job as the result of a strike is considered to have voluntarily quit the job without good cause. Sanctions may be applicable when a household member voluntarily reduces his or her work effort to less than thirty (30) hours per week. Sanctions are also applicable when a voluntary quit or voluntary reduction in work hours occurs but is not reported in a timely fashion. This includes, but is not limited to the following instances: • A voluntary quit or reduction in work hours occurs thirty (30) days or less before the date of application, is not reported at application and is discovered after application approval • A voluntary quit or reduction in work hours occurs after the date of the initial application interview and is reported after the approval notice is issued • A voluntary quit or reduction in work hours occurs while the household is participating but is not reported timely The following steps must be completed to determine if a voluntary quit has occurred and if a sanction should be applied. Step 1: Determine if the employment involved thirty (30) hours or more per week or provided weekly earnings are equivalent to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by thirty (30) hours. If yes, go to step 2. If no, the household will not be sanctioned. Step 2: Determine if the member who quit is between sixteen (16) years of age and sixty (60) years of age. If this member is less than sixteen (16) years of age or sixty (60) years of age or older, a sanction will not be applied. If this member is between sixteen (16) years of age and sixty (60) years of age, go to step 3. Step 3: Determine if the member who quit or reduced work hours is subject to the General Work Requirements (see SNAP 3200-3290). If this member was exempt from the requirements at the time the quit occurred (excluding the exemption for employment) or is presently exempt, no sanction will be applied. If the member who quit is subject to the General Work Requirements, go to step 4. Step 4: Determine if the quit or reduction in hours was for good cause (see SNAP 3411). If yes, the member will not be sanctioned. If no, the member will be sanctioned. See SNAP 3420 for the applicable sanction. The sanction will apply only to the individual or individuals who failed or refused to comply with the General