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

Section 385.9- Page 2 Rev. 4/2025 Part A - The Regulations a) Social services districts may provide, and require applicants for and recipients of public assistance to participate in a variety of activities, including but not limited to the following: 1) unsubsidized employment; 2) subsidized private sector employment; 3) subsidized public sector employment; 4) work experience in the public sector or non-profit sector, (including work associated with refurbishing publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private sector employment is not available as determined by the social services official. The maximum number of hours a recipient or applicant may be required to engage in this activity is limited to the number which equals the amount of assistance payable with respect to the public assistance household of such individual (inclusive of the value of SNAP received by the public assistance household of such individual, if any) divided by the higher of (i) the Federal minimum wage, or (ii) the State minimum wage. The limitation of the number of hours of work experience to which a participant may be assigned is a calculation of allowable hours in a work activity and does not mean that such participant is receiving a wage for the performance of such activities. The participant is not working off the grant, but is engaged in work activities as an element of his/her plan to become self-sufficient; 5) on-the-job training; 6) job search and job readiness assistance, as time limited by Federal law, provided that job search is an active and continuing effort to secure employment, configured by the social services official, provided further, such activities shall include activities with the goal of seeking or obtaining employment, or preparation to seek or obtain employment, including life-skills training, which shall include, but not be limited to, home visiting services to the recipient and their family; 7) community service programs provided, however, the number of hours a participant in community service activities authorized pursuant to this section may be required to work in such assignment shall not exceed a number which equals the amount of assistance payable with respect to the public assistance household of such individual (inclusive of the value of SNAP received by the public assistance household of such individual, if any) divided by the higher of (i) the Federal minimum wage, or (ii) the State minimum wage. No participant shall be assigned to a community service activity that conflicts with his/her bona fide religious beliefs. The definition or parameters of this activity shall be set forth in the local plan submitted by the social services district, provided that an individual needed in the home because another member of the household requires his/her presence due to a verified mental or physical impairment shall be deemed to be engaged in community service to the extent such person is actually providing care for such member of the household. The limitation of the number of hours of community service to which a participant may be