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FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 255 VOLUNTARY QUIT AND VOLUNTARY REDUCTION

2 Section 255 Change #17-2021 September 20, 2021 1. First Offense - One month 2. Second Offense - Three months 3. Third and Subsequent Offenses - Six months NOTE: No compliance activity (cure) is needed after the penalty ends. Add the individual back to the FNS case once the penalty has ended. If an individual gains a work registration exemption prior to the end of the penalty, the disqualification is ended. NOTE: The disqualification runs whether the individual receives FNS benefits or not. The proposed period of disqualification runs for a future period, not retroactively. Example: An individual is disqualified for June, July, and August. The certification period ends in June. The FNS unit does not complete a recertification and the case terminates at the end of July. The FNS unit returns in September to reapply for benefits. Even though the individual did not receive FNS benefits during the months of July and August, those months are still countable as part of the disqualification period. The individual would be eligible September forward as long as all other criteria are met. C. If the member finds comparable employment or becomes exempt from work registration before the application is processed or before the Notice of Adverse Action period ends, do not impose the penalty. The FNS member may cure the voluntary quit and lift the penalty without serving the full disqualification period if he finds a comparable job in salary or hours to the job that was quit; if he finds a job that offers benefits that the other job did not offer such as health care; or he becomes exempt from work registration. D. If the FNS member leaves the household, the penalty follows him. E. If the FNS requests a fair hearing and continued benefits, and the hearing decision upholds the county’s decision, begin the disqualification the month following the notice of the hearing decision.

255.02 EXEMPTIONS FROM VOLUNTARY QUIT AND VOLUNTARY REDUCTION A FNS member is exempt from voluntary quit if: A. The individual is exempt from work requirements (except due to employment). Refer to FNS 240.02 for the list of work requirement exemptions.