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

Section 385.9- Page 27 Rev. 4/2025 Part C - Questions and Answers Q.1 Can districts approve two-year and four-year college programs as an employment activity? A.1 Yes. Districts may approve any work activity that meets the individual’s need for moving toward self-sufficiency. Participation in post-secondary education is included in the definitions of vocational education and job skills training to the extent such activities are consistent with federal and State requirements. Districts are no longer required to assign 20 hours of concurrent work activity for clients engaged in post-secondary education beyond a 12-month period. However, districts may assign a concurrent work activity if the client’s assessment and employment plan support such an assignment and the work activity does not interfere with the client’s education. Q.2 Can districts assign an individual to more than one countable activity in order to meet the minimum requirement of hours per week in the participation rate calculation? A.2 Yes, unless the individual is unable to work such hours due to a documented medical or other work limitations. Q.3 Do we have to notify clients of the combined hours assigned to PA work experience activity and the SNAP E&T work experience activity? If noncompliance occurs, how should the notice be written? A.3 Yes, the client must be informed that they are being assigned to two activities (SNAP E&T work experience and TANF or Safety Net Work Experience). The client must be informed these are separate programs with separate consequences for noncompliance. Q.4 Can districts assign individuals to financial literacy and person finance instruction programs? A.4 Yes. Districts may offer education or a course of instruction in financial literacy and personal finance which includes instruction on household cash management techniques, career advice to obtain a well-paying and secure job, using checking and savings accounts, obtaining and utilizing short and long term credit, securing a loan or other long term financing arrangement for high cost items; or participation in a higher education course of instruction or trade school as an allowable educational activity. Financial literacy and personal finance related activities may also be reported under Job Readiness Training.