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NON-EDUCATION, NON-WORK COMPONENT: WORKFARE Description of the component. Provide a summary of the activities and services. (PENDING 100% APPROVAL): Workfare is an unpaid community service activity designed for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) receiving SNAP benefits. It provides participants with opportunities to serve in federal, state, or local government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations. The program’s primary goal is to enhance employability by cultivating essential workplace habits and foundational skills— such as organization, problem-solving, and basic math—or by reinforcing existing competencies relevant to employment. Rather than receiving wages, participants fulfill the value of their monthly SNAP benefit allotment through their service hours. Importantly, workfare assignments must not displace existing employees or interfere with the hiring of paid staff. Participants are entitled to the same working conditions and benefits as employees performing comparable duties for similar hours. The Department of Program Operations (DPO) calculates the maximum number of required workfare hours by dividing a household’s monthly SNAP benefit amount by the District of Columbia’s minimum wage. Participants are assigned duties based on this calculation. Total weekly hours—including workfare and any paid employment—must not exceed 30 hours. To ensure compliance, DPO monitors all ABAWDs engaged in SNAP Employment & Training (E&T), community service, or self-initiated activities. Upon referral, SNAP E&T partners must immediately record community service status in the program database and submit monthly reports of hours served. Any changes in volunteer status must be reported to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within 10 days. E&T contracted programs use the WF-1 form to establish a non-financial agreement with the community service provider. This form certifies the participant’s service schedule and affirms the provider’s obligation to report changes in participation within 10 days. Providers must enter service hours by the 5th day of the month following participation and are responsible for ongoing review of participant eligibility. Individuals who fail to meet program criteria must be removed from workfare, with terminations automatically communicated to the SNAP E&T system via a system-generated notice the next day. By tracking E&T activity codes, monthly data submissions, and termination notices, DPO determines whether ABAWDs are satisfying work requirements or if benefit discontinuation is warranted. 1/28/26, 11:03 AM State Plan DC FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-dcfy26stateplan//index.html 64/179