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SCREENING FOR REFERRAL TO E&T The State agency must screen each work registrant to determine if it is appropriate, based on State-specific criteria, to refer them to the E&T program per 7 CFR 273.7 (c)(2). State agencies may operate program components in which individuals elect to participate, per 7 CFR 273.7(e)(4). List the State-specific criteria eligibility workers use to screen individuals to determine if it is appropriate to refer them to the State's SNAP E&T program. Eligibility staff screen individuals for the following in making the determination of appropriateness for referral to SNAP E&T: 1.) Highest level of education completed (to assess reading, writing and arithmetic proficiency) 2.) Mental or physical limitations 3.) Employment status and/or history 4.) Access to transportation 5.) Access to computer(s) and the internet 6.) Interest in participating in an activity that would increase their employability or advance their skillsets. Lack of, or the absence of, any of the above-mentioned items will not preclude participation. eligible participants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Participants must be a resident of the State of Mississippi. What information does the State provide to a SNAP recipient to explain SNAP E&T participation criteria? E&T participants receive verbal notification of referral completion and their responsibility to attend E&T orientation/assessment session before beginning an E&T activity during the certification process. MDHS’ eligibility specialists use the MS SNAP Work Requirements Oral Script, to guide the conversation with applicants about the benefits of participating in SNAP, applicable work requirements, reimbursements, and the SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) program. Following certification/recertification, participants receive a copy of the MDHS-EA-563 E&T Participation Acknowledgment Form and the F936 MS SNAP Work Requirements Notice. The MDHS-EA-563 E&T Participation Acknowledgment Form acknowledges and affirms individual understanding of the SNAP E&T program, applicable work requirements, and qualifications for reimbursements. The F936 MS SNAP Work Requirements Notice identifies individuals in the SNAP household that are subject to SNAP work requirements, applicable work requirements per individual and their responsibilities. The notice provides an explanation of exemptions from the work requirement(s), instructions on how to request an exemption (including contact information to request an exemption), the rights and responsibilities of each applicable SNAP participant, what is required to maintain eligibility under the work requirement, appointment date/time, time periods in which an individual must take action to remain in compliance, the consequences for failure to comply with the work requirement, an explanation of the process for requesting good cause (including examples of good cause circumstances and contact information to initiate a good cause request), and penalty periods applied for non-compliance. During the orientation/assessment session, eligibility specialists provide information about the E&T program opportunities, service providers, available credentials and certifications, available support services, the importance of adhering to provider guidelines, attendance policy and contact information for the program administrators. Where available, S2W partner Navigators are invited to present available program participation opportunities to E&T participants during the orientation/assessment appointment. 1/29/26, 8:18 AM State Plan MS FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-msfy26stateplan//index.html 23/104