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Food Stamp Employment And Training (FSET) Program
What is the FSET Program?
The FSET Program is California's employment and training program for Non-Assistance Food Stamp (NAFS) applicants and recipients. NAFS recipients receive food stamps each month, but do not get a monthly cash grant under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program. Federal FSET requirements are defined in Section 6(d) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.Who can participate in FSET?
Counties may choose whether to offer an FSET program. NAFS recipients who live in counties that offer the FSET program must participate in FSET program work activities to remain eligible for food stamps, unless they are exempt or deferred from participation. A county may also designate a specific group to participate in the FSET program, e.g., the county's General Assistance population. FSET participants are reimbursed for transportation, dependent care, or ancillary expenses that are reasonable and necessary and directly relate to participation in FSET and that are in accordance with the county's FSET plan.
Who is exempt from participating in FSET?
Food stamp recipients are exempt from FSET Program participation for reasons that include physical or mental disability, care for a child under age six, half-time school attendance, and participation in CalWORKs welfare-to-work activities. Individuals can also be temporarily deferred from FSET participation for reasons that include but are not limited to: a family crisis, lack of transportation, living too far from an FSET program site, and temporary illness.
What kinds of activities are part of FSET?
Participants can be assigned to a variety of FSET activities, which may include job club, job search, workfare, self-initiated workfare, vocational training, and basic education, including English-as-a-Second-Language for clients who have limited-English-proficiency. Up to 25 percent of the time spent in an FSET component may be devoted to drug/alcohol rehabilitation.
Are there any penalties for not participating in FSET?
Persons, who are required to participate in FSET and fail or refuse to participate without a good reason, are sanctioned (ineligible for food stamps) for one, three, or six months depending on the number of times they fail to participate.
Who administers the FSET Program?
The FSET Program is administered by counties. Counties, who choose to operate an FSET program, must submit an annual plan for state approval. The plan describes the FSET activities which the county will provide and the cost for administering those activities. The California Department of Social Services compiles the approved county plans into an annual State Plan that is submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service for approval.
Highlights
- FSET is administered by the counties.
- Counties may choose whether to operate an FSET program.