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●	Work Experience is a work component designed to improve the employability of participants through actual work experience and/or training and to enable them to move into regular employment. Work experience assignments may not replace the employment of a regularly employed individual and they must provide the same benefits and working conditions provided to regularly employed individuals performing comparable work for comparable hours. In contrast to the workfare component, it is permissible to place E&T participants in work experience positions with private, for-profit companies. However, households that include uncompensated work experience participants must not be required to work more hours monthly than the total obtained by dividing the household’s monthly SNAP allotment by the higher of the applicable Federal or State minimum wage. The county agency or ESP must round the number of hours arrived at through this computation down to the next full hour. Labor standards apply in any work experience setting where an employee/employer relationship, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act, exists. For example:
	On-the-job Training (OJT) - A work placement made through a contract with an employer or registered apprenticeship program sponsor in the public, private non-profit, or private sector. An OJT contract must be limited to the period of time required for a participant to become proficient in the occupation for which the training is being provided. In determining the appropriate length of the contract, consideration should be given to the skill requirements of the occupation, the academic and occupational skill level of the participant, prior work experience, and the participant's individual employment plan. Workforce One Activity(ies): OJT – Public or Private.
	Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeship - A combination of on-the-job training and related instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a skilled occupation. Apprenticeship programs can be sponsored by individual employers, joint employer and labor groups, and/or employer associations. Pre-Apprenticeship programs provide individuals with the basic and technical skills necessary to enter an apprenticeship program and should be directly linked to an apprenticeship program. Workforce One Activity(ies): Apprenticeship.
	Internship or Work Experience - A planned, structured learning experience that takes place in a workplace for a limited period of time. Workforce One Activity(ies): Paid Work Experience, Uncompensated Work Experience.

Work experience is either paid or uncompensated work at either:

●	A work site selected by the participant. It is possible that the participant may locate an uncompensated work position to obtain work experience. The work site must be approved by the county agency or Employment Services Provider (ESP) and must provide structured, supervised work duties for the required number of hours.
●	An ESP-located work site/placement in an ESP developed work slot which provides the required number of hours of supervised work.

The participant’s previous training, experience, and skills should be considered when making a placement in a work experience position.

The ESP must ensure that no work assignment results in:

●	Termination, layoff, or reduction of work hours of an employee for the purpose of hiring a work experience participant.
●	The hiring of a work experience participant if any other person is on layoff, including seasonal layoff, from the same or a substantially equivalent job.
●	Any infringement of the promotional opportunities of any currently employed individual.
●	The impairment of an existing contract for services or a collective bargaining agreement.
●	A participant filling an established unfilled position vacancy.

The employer must provide the same or equivalent working conditions to work experience employees as it does to similarly situated employees. The job slot cannot involve political or partisan activities.

Participation in a work experience work site is voluntary for all participants. No participant shall be required to participate in a work experience work site. Priority for work site placement should be given to participants who cannot “earn” additional months of SNAP benefits in another way. Within the limits of program funding, participants must be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket costs of participating.

It is recommended that job seeking be continued in addition to the work experience placement so that suitable employment is located early.

The participant's ESP must include the length of time needed in the work experience program, the need to continue job seeking activities while participating in work experience, and the participant's employment goals. After each 6 months of a person’s participation in a work experience job placement, and at the conclusion of each work experience assignment under this section, the ESP must reassess and revise, as appropriate, the participant's employment plan.

The ESP must maintain records of hours worked, work sites, and hours assigned, and must maintain communications with the county agency regarding work site operations. All records must be maintained for a minimum of 10 years after termination from the program.

After a participant has been assigned to a work experience position for 9 months, the participant may not continue in that assignment, unless the maximum number of hours the participant works does not exceed the SNAP benefit divided by the rate of pay for individuals employed in the same or similar occupations by the same employer at the same site.

A participant has good cause for failure to cooperate with a work experience job placement if, in the judgment of the county agency or ESP, the reason for failure is reasonable and justified.

Work experience participants who are in an ESP-approved work site qualify for the Injury Protection Program (IPP). This state-funded program provides payment for medical treatment, permanent partial disability compensation, and compensation for injuries resulting in death for people who are injured while performing work under the work experience program.

Compensation under the IPP is limited to reimbursement for reasonable medical expenses and permanent partial disability compensation in amounts comparable to those allowed under the state’s Workers’ Compensation program. Compensation for injuries resulting in death includes reasonable medical expenses and burial expenses, in addition to payment to the participant's estate in an amount up to $200,000. Payments made by the IPP are reduced by any proceeds received from any insurance policy covering the loss (excluding Health Care payments).

The IPP does not provide payment for pain and suffering, lost wages, or other benefits provided under Workers’ Compensation.

Complete the Injury Protection Program Participant Information and Authorization to Release Medical Information (DHS-3994) (PDF) prior to placing a participant in uncompensated work experience.