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NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance- TA and SNAP Employment Policy Manual

Section 385.9- Page 15 Rev. 4/2025 Subsidized Public Sector Employment - Employment in the public sector for which the employer receives a subsidy from TANF or other public funds (excluding tax credits) to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employing and training a recipient in accordance with New York State Social Services Law 336-e. Subsidized public sector employment will include positions subsidized through grant diversion/TEAP, and paid college work study programs at public institutions. Individuals participating in subsidized public sector employment, and work study unless otherwise permitted under a federal work study program, are paid wages and receive the same benefits as unsubsidized employees who perform similar work. An employment situation will be subsidized for up to the full amount of wages/benefits provided to the program participant and will be subsidized for the length of time as determined appropriate by the social services district and approved by the State. Districts are reminded that income from paid work study may not be budgeted to determine the family’s TA eligibility since the income may be treated as a grant. Subsidized public sector employment does not include OJT programs where employers are subsidized to offset the costs of training. There is tremendous flexibility with these programs. For instance, part-time positions may be funded; grant diversion or program funds may be used to cover benefits other than wages or to cover training costs, and local districts are able to establish agreements with employers to better match the needs of the individual. • Districts may report projected actual hours of employment participation for up to six months based on current, documented actual hours of work. Any time the district receives information that the participant’s actual hours of work have changed, or no later than the end of any six-month period, the district must re-verify the participant’s current, actual average hours of work and may report these projected actual hours of work for the succeeding six-month period, unless a change in the number of hours worked which is expected to continue is subsequently reported which must be acted upon by the district in a timely manner. • Hours of subsidized private sector employment may include the hours that the individual is paid by his/her employer to attend a training program or to participate in supportive activities, such as substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, and rehabilitation activities. Work Experience - Unpaid work performed at a public or not for profit organization to enable participants who cannot find unsubsidized employment to improve their employability. Work experience provides participants with an opportunity to acquire the general skills, training, knowledge and work habits necessary to obtain and retain employment. Participation in work experience includes training required for the participant to complete the work experience assignment. For example, an individual who is expected to provide clerical support in a government agency may be provided training to develop or refine filing and data entry skills as needed to perform the tasks required as part of the work activity assignment.