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SCREENING FOR WORK REGISTRATION State agency eligibility staff must screen for federal exemptions from work registration, per 7 CFR 273.7(a). Describe how the State agency screens applicants to determine if they are work registrants. Applicants are registered for work by signing the HHS Food and Financial Support Application. During the SNAP eligibility interview, circumstances for each household member are discussed via a verbal script to determine the Mandatory Work Registration (MWR), ABAWD status or possible exemptions of each member . Iowa will substitute the SNAP work requirements with the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) work requirements for eligible refugees. Refugees who receive RCA are exempt from SNAP work requirements. Non-exempt refugees receiving RCA must follow work requirements as determined by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and provided by Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS). Through BRS, an employable refugee must: • Register for employment with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) within 30 days of the receipt of RCA. • Participate in employment services provided by BRS within 30 days from receipt of assistance. Participation includes: o Developing an individual employability plan, o Participating in job search, where applicable, o Going to a job interview arranged by BRS, and o Participating in a social service or targeted assistance program which BRS determines to be available or appropriate. • Apply for and accept an offer of employment meeting the standards described in Appropriate Work and Standards Applying to Both Work and Training. The refugee must accept such a job without regard to whether the job would interrupt a program of services planned or in progress, unless the refugee: o Is currently participating in a program in progress of on-the-job-training or vocational training approved as part of the refugee’s individual employability plan, or o Is enrolled full time in a professional recertification program approved as part of the refugee’s individual employability plan. • Not voluntarily quit a job. • Participate in any employability service program that is determined available and appropriate by the Department. While job search is the primary focus, educational opportunities may be available. An applicant who has been determined to have failed to meet work requirements will be denied RCA. The first date of subsequent RCA eligibility is 31 calendar days after the date of failure. A participant who has been determined to have failed work requirements is provided a conciliation period of not more than 30 days prior to the imposition of the sanction. If, after the conciliation period, the RCA recipient is determined to have failed or refused to cooperation, sanctions are imposed. The sanction is three payment months for the first occurrence, and six payment months for the second or subsequent occurrences. Specific language regarding RCA work requirements and sanctions can be found here: https://hhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/6-D.pdf?091220221653 How does the State agency work register non-exempt individuals? Work Registration Process: Policy: By signing the application or recertification form, a SNAP applicant or recipient is considered to be registered for work. However, work requirements apply only to mandatory work registrants (MWRs) in the household. 1/28/26, 11:53 AM State Plan IA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-iafy26stateplan//index.html 16/105