Page 15
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS State agencies are required to include information on the organizational relationship between the units responsible for certification and the units operating the E&T components, including units of the statewide workforce development system, if available. For the purposes of the questions below, E&T providers are considered to include units of the statewide workforce development system. FNS is specifically interested in ensuring that the lines of communication are efficient and that, if applicable, noncompliance with mandatory E&T is reported to the certification unit within 10 working days after the noncompliance occurs, per 7 CFR 273.7(c)(4). State agencies must also include information on the relationship between the State agency and other organizations it plans to coordinate with for the provision of services. The following questions are about how the E&T program is structured in your State agency. Indicate which division within the SNAP State agency is responsible for the E&T program. (i.e. establishes E&T policy, contracts for E&T services, monitors providers). For example, explain if the E&T program unit is separate from the SNAP certification unit, and if there are separate E&T units at the county level. The Eligibility Services Division (ESD) and Workforce Development Division (WDD) collaborate to provide E&T services to participants. ESD is responsible to determine a SNAP applicant's eligibility and certification. ESD eligibility workers are responsible to screen each household member who are subject to applicable work requirements. The eligibility worker uses the information from the SNAP application along with information obtained through the SNAP interview to determine which household members are subject to the E&T work requirements. The eligibility worker determines if any household members meet a federal exemption. If any of the household members do not meet a federal exemption, the eligibility worker determines if they meet a state exemption. If any of the household members do not meet either a federal or state exemption, the eligibility worker determines that the applicant is a mandatory E&T participant. Participation requirements are discussed as part of the interview. Once the participation determination is made, the eligibility worker orally communicates to the SNAP applicant that they are subject to participate in the state's E&T program. The eligibility worker orally educates the individual on the state's E&T requirements, which are: *Register for work online at jobs.utah.gov *Attend a virtual SNAP E&T Workshop *Meet with an assigned employment counselor each month *Complete any required workshops *Complete 48 job contacts The eligibility worker explains that the state will reimburse the E&T participant $50 for each month they participate. However, if the cost to participate in E&T exceeds the $50 per month reimbursement, the E&T participant can either indicate that at the time of interview or contact DWS after the interview regarding the cost concerns. If the cost to participate exceeds $50, the eligibility worker exempts the E&T participant from participating in the state's E&T program. During the interview, education is given on the E&T program and reimbursements. If a customer reports that the cost to participate is more than $50, a worker will exempt them at that time. If the customer begins participation and expresses that the cost to participate exceeds $50, either to their employment counselor or eligibility we would add the exemption for the customer. Upon approving the SNAP application, two E&T processes occur. First, the eligibility worker determines appropriateness for referral to the E&T program. During the interview and after determining the SNAP applicant does not meet a federal or state exemption, the eligibility worker reviews the applicant's ability to participate by reviewing criteria to participate outlined in the supervised job search section of this plan. The eligibility worker will refer appropriate E&T participants to the E&T program. The referral is entered into eREP and submitted to UWORKS through a batch file. Next, eREP sends a notice to the E&T participant 1/29/26, 10:24 AM State Plan UT FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-utfy26stateplan//index.html 15/56