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20200 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH WORK REGISTRATION REGULATIONS

Individuals are required to comply with work registration regulations. Unless good cause is granted, individuals may not: A. Refuse or fail to register for employment

B. Refuse to accept an offer of employment: 1. The employment site must not be subject to strike or lockout; 2. The offer of employment must be: a) Applicable federal or state minimum wage; or b) 80% of the applicable federal minimum wage if neither the federal or state minimum wage are applicable; or c) It is on piece rate basis and the average hourly yield the individual can reasonably expect to earn is less than the applicable hourly wage specified under “a” or “b” above.

C. Refuse to provide sufficient information to allow a determination of the individual’s employment availability. 1. Failure or refusal to provide information relating to the household’s eligibility or benefit determination would result in rejection of the application or termination of benefits following adverse action time frames. If the failure to provide information is about employment history or wage amount/receipt (date job started/stopped; reason for termination, etc.), the household will be ineligible because of non- cooperation. However, if the individual refuses or fails to submit information to determine exemption criteria such as a doctor’s name to verify incapacity, the individual would be sanctioned.

The deciding factor in determining which penalty is appropriate (case closure or individual sanction) is whether or not eligibility/benefit level may be determined without the information provided. If eligibility/benefit level cannot be determined, the case is denied or terminated for non-cooperation. If eligibility/benefit level can be determined without the information, the individual is sanctioned. Example 2: QC is reviewing Janie’s SNAP case for March 2012. QC sends ACCESS mail on May 22 stating Janie’s 19 year old daughter Becky has refused to cooperate. Enter the QC review month as March 2012 and the start date as July 2012 to provide 10 day adverse action notice. The cure date will automatically display as 2/2/13 after the case goes through background. The case remains ineligible until February 3, 2013, unless Becky cooperates with QC or moves to another household before that date.

On June 5, 2012, Janie reports that Becky has moved out of her household and provides Becky’s new address. If Janie’s case has not been closed for July, a left date should be entered on Becky’s MEMB panel and eligibility determined. If Janie’s case was closed, it should be reinstated so a left date can be entered on Becky’s MEMB panel, so eligibility can be determined. If Janie had not reported Becky moved out of her household until July 2nd or later, a new application is required, and benefits will be prorated.

On June 5, 2012, Becky files an application for SNAP benefits. She has not cooperated with QC, so the disqualification period has not ended. Deny the application because Becky must cooperate with QC, or the disqualification period must end before she is eligible.