The Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) provides state agencies with grant money to fund the administrative costs of a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. E&T grants vary based on the number of work registrants and Time-limited Recipients (TLRs) in a state. These grants are called 100% funds and must be used on the planning, implementation, and operation of a state E&T program. One hundred percent money cannot be used for any participant reimbursements, or support services, such as transportation or uniforms. The Minnesota Legislature annually appropriates a small amount of state funding to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to support eligible participant reimbursements. State and federal funds available for SNAP E&T operations are then formula allocated to county agencies and Tribal Nations.

Within the limits of available funding, DCYF reimburses the actual costs of providing SNAP E&T program services, including participant support services, direct program services, and administrative costs.

FNA will also allocate $20 million in Federal funds each fiscal year to state agencies that ensure availability of education, training, or workfare opportunities that permit Time-limited SNAP Recipients (TLRs) to remain eligible beyond the 3-month time limit (See below sections in Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations). To be eligible, a state agency must make and comply with a commitment, or “pledge,” to use these additional funds to defray the cost of offering a position in an education, training, or workfare component that fulfills the TLR work requirement to each recipient who is:

(A) In the last month of the 3-month time limit described in § 273.24(b);

(B) Not eligible for an exception to the 3-month time limit under § 273.24(c);

(C) Not a resident of an area of the state granted a waiver of the 3-month time limit under § 273.24(f); and

(D) Not included in each state agency's banked month allotment under § 273.24(g).

A state's annual 100 percent Federal E&T grant is its share of the regular 100 percent Federal E&T allocation plus its share of the additional $20 million (if applicable). Like 100 percent funds, pledge funds are limited to administrative and program costs only.

Another type of E&T funding is 50% reimbursement. There are two kinds of 50% reimbursement that a state agency can claim. The first kind is a 50% reimbursement for additional administrative costs for the planning, implementing, and operating of an E&T program. The second kind of 50% reimbursement that a state agency can claim is for participant reimbursements, or support services. Eligible support services are those that are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in an E&T activity. The Federal government will reimburse 50% of state agency payments for allowable expenses, however, the full cost of services must be originally paid for with non-federal funding.

Both 100% funding and 50% reimbursement funding can be utilized at the local level in the operation of this single program.

The purpose of the SNAP E&T program is to assist members of SNAP households in gaining skills, training, work, or experience that will improve their employment prospects and reduce their reliance on SNAP benefits.

State statutes implement federal laws and regulations and establish the framework for Minnesota’s SNAP E&T program. SNAP E&T program operations in Minnesota are supervised by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in partnership with the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The program operates under Minnesota Statutes, Sections 142F.10.

State functions include:

· Issuing of guidelines, regulations, and procedures governing statewide service programs and expenditures.

· Allocation of program funding.

· Operation and management of an automated participant tracking and reporting system.

· Federal program reporting

· Monitoring of local service programs and expenditures.

· Coordination of services between SNAP E&T providers.

DCYF contracts directly with third party providers for SNAP E&T services. As a DCYF grantee, these organizations are considered to be part of the “welfare system” for the purpose of serving SNAP recipients in SNAP E&T. Participant information based on business need can be shared between eligibility workers and providers without a separate release of information.

DCYF may reallocate unexpended money from one entity that will not use all of its allocation to another county or Tribal Nation that demonstrates a need for additional funds.