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Title 7: SNAP Page 10 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter M: Employment and Training Program Substitution of FIP Work Rules Revised October 11, 2024

Substitution of FIP Work Rules Legal reference: 7 CFR 273.25 The USDA Food and Nutrition Service gives states the option to operate a mini-simplified SNAP program. This option allows the state to replace SNAP work rules with Family Investment Program (FIP) work rules for some households. Iowa has chosen to operate a mini-simplified SNAP program for FIP households in which the parent is exempt from SNAP mandatory work registration due to caring for a child under age six. Because FIP parents included in the program are exempt from work registration, they are not subject to SNAP disqualification for failure to comply with work requirements. Inclusion of a household in the program has no effect on how SNAP eligibility and benefits are determined. Under the mini-simplified SNAP program, the monthly SNAP and FIP benefits are combined to determine the maximum number of hours the parent may participate in an unpaid work activity subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act under FIP. Maximum hours for a month are determined by dividing the total amount of benefits by the state or federal minimum wage (whichever is higher). If the FIP parent works the maximum number of hours and still falls short of the hours needed to meet the FIP work obligation, the FIP parent is deemed to meet the FIP work obligation. Including the SNAP benefit amount in determining the maximum number of work hours provides the parent an opportunity to increase job skills and improve employability. It also helps Iowa meet FIP work participation rate requirements.