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A. WORK REGISTRATION
Within 30 days of any application and once every twelve months after being found eligible, each household member age 16 through 59 who is not exempt pursuant to subsections 1 through 9, below, must register and maintain an active Maine JobLink account with the Maine Department of Labor and must comply with the provisions of the Responsibilities of Registrants section, below. Registration may be completed online, and may be prepared by someone acting on behalf of, and with consent of, the mandatory registrant.
B. EXEMPT MEMBERS
An individual is not required to participate in work registration, but may voluntarily participate when the household member is:
(1) age sixteen or seventeen and not the principal wage earner, regardless of student status.
(2) a student, regardless of age, who is enrolled at least half time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education.
(3) working an average of thirty or more hours per week or, if working fewer hours, earning an average of the weekly equivalent of thirty hours at the federal hourly minimum wage.
(4) subject to, and complying with, a TANF work requirement.
(5) receiving or applying for unemployment benefits.
(6) caring for a dependent child under age 6.
NOTE: “Dependent Child” is a child who resides with a parent or stepparent or, in the absence of residing with a parent, a child who resides with an adult who is assuming parental responsibility for the child (see Section 111-1).
(7) caring for an incapacitated person who cannot provide their own care. The incapacitated person need not live with the SNAP household.
(8) physically or mentally unable to work thirty or more hours per week. When this is not apparent, or there is contradictory information, a doctor's statement or proof of disability benefits shall be required.
(9) a regular participant in a substance use disorder treatment and rehabilitation program.
C. RESPONSIBILITIES OF REGISTRANTS
Work registrants must:
(1) when required by these or applicable federal rules, participate in an employment/training program.
(2) comply with the work participation requirements of other means-tested public assistance programs, such as TANF/ASPIRE and General Assistance, if the participant is a member of the other program(s) in addition to SNAP.
(3) respond to requests from the Department, the Maine JobLink, and/or a prospective employer about employment status or availability for work.
(4) when referred by the Department or its designee, report for suitable employment.
(5) accept a bona fide offer of suitable employment.
A job is not suitable for purposes of this Clause or Clause 4, above, if:
(i) it pays less than the Maine minimum wage.
(ii) it is dangerous to health or safety.
(iii) daily commuting time of more than two hours is required, or the distance is unreasonable, considering the wage, commuting time and costs, or lack of transportation.
(iv) the registrant is physically or mentally unable to do the job.
(v) the registrant is required to join or quit a union.
(vi) there is a strike or lock-out at the work site.
(vii) it interferes with religious doctrine.
(viii) when the job is offered within thirty days of the initial registration, it is outside the registrant's major field of experience. A registrant is required to accept an otherwise suitable job when offered after the first thirty days.
D. DISQUALIFICATION PROVISIONS
(1) When a household member does not comply with a registration requirement and cannot show good cause, that member is disqualified from receiving SNAP.
(2) Start Date of Disqualification - The start date is the first of the month after normal procedures for closing or removal of the individual have taken place. Should a fair hearing delay the implementation, the period starts the first of the month following the decision upholding the agency.
(3) Disqualification Penalties and Ending Disqualification - Unless the member who was in violation becomes exempt for a reason other than TANF, PaS or UIB status, the disqualification period continues until the disqualified member both—
(i) complies with all registration requirements and
(ii) serves a penalty period of at least—
(a) one month for the first violation,
(b) three months for the second violation, or
(c) six months for the third violation and subsequent violations
which occurred 8/22/96 or later.
NOTE: If the person who caused the disqualification joins another household, the penalty follows them.
(4) SPECIAL RULES - TANF AND UIB - When a member who was exempt because of registration in TANF, PaS, or UIB fails to comply with a work participation requirement, the household is treated as though that member violated the SNAP work requirements.
EXCEPTION: A purely procedural requirement, such as submitting a monthly report form, shall not be considered a failure to meet work participation requirements.
E. GOOD CAUSE PROVISIONS
(1) When a work registrant fails to comply with the work registration, employment and training, or voluntary quit requirements, the Department may make a determination of Good Cause. The Department shall consider all facts and circumstances, including information submitted by the household member and the employer.
(2) Good Cause includes circumstances beyond the member's control, such as, but not limited to—
(i) illness,
(ii) illness of another household member requiring the presence of the member seeking Good Cause,
(iii) a household emergency,
(iv) the unavailability of transportation, or
(v) the lack of adequate child care for children between six and twelve years of age.