Mandatory E&T (Basic Employment Skills Training Program BEST) 430-05-40-55-05

(Revised 09/26/22 ML 3681)

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The Basic Employment Skills Training (BEST) Program is intended to expose participating individuals to job seeking and retention skills. It is operational in Burleigh and Cass human service zones. Mandatory work registrants who do not meet the BEST exemption (see section 430-05-40- 55-10) criteria are mandatory participants for BEST. Individuals exempt from the BEST requirements may volunteer to participate. Voluntary participants will be referred to the NDWORKS program. If the NDWORKS program has a waitlist in Burleigh or Cass human service zones, the voluntary participant will be referred to BEST. Voluntary participants are not subject to the work disqualification.

 

Exemptions from BEST

The following individuals are not required to participate in BEST:

1. Geographic (individuals not living in Burleigh and Cass human service zones).

2. Migrants in the job stream.

3. Individuals exempt for good cause as determined by sound, professional judgment of the worker. The case must be thoroughly documented to support the exemption.

4. Individuals who are participating in the Parental Responsibility Initiative for the Development of Employment (PRIDE) Program.

5. Individuals where public transportation is limited because of where and when the public transportation is available.

6. Individuals with a temporary disability such as a broken leg, illness, etc.

7. Individuals who do not have a permanent residence and are 'homeless'.

8. Limited or non-English speaking individuals.

9. Pregnant Women.

 

Participant Responsibilities

BEST participants must do the following

• Attend the orientation session assigned.

• Contact the BEST case manager to reschedule if necessary.

• Participate and follow the BEST responsibilities provided by the BEST case manager on the BEST Responsibilities form.

Participants failing to meet these responsibilities will be subject to program disqualification.

 

BEST Case Manager Responsibilities

The local BEST case manager must:

• Conduct orientation sessions.

• Inform the eligibility worker of participant non-compliance.

• Inform the eligibility worker when a participant gains employment.

• Submit monthly program tracking spreadsheets to the State Office.

• Submit monthly participant reimbursements to the State Office.

 

Good Cause for Non-Compliance – BEST

The eligibility worker is responsible for determining good cause when an individual has failed to comply with the BEST Program. The BEST case manager may be able to provide reason(s) why the individual failed to participate, however the determination must be made by the eligibility worker.

 

When the BEST case manager notifies the eligibility worker of non- compliance, the eligibility worker must send notice Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – E&T Good Cause Determination to the individual. The individual must establish if good cause exists within 10 days of the notice. If good cause does not exist or the individual does not respond, the eligibility worker must begin the disqualification process found in “Disqualification Time Frames for BEST 430-05-40-55-45”.

 

Good cause for non-compliance with the BEST Program includes circumstances beyond the individual’s control, including but not limited to:

1. Illness.

2. Illness of another household member requiring the presence of the individual.

3. A household emergency.

4. Unavailability of transportation.

5. Lack of adequate childcare for children who have reached age six, but are under age 12.

6. Acceptance of employment of more than 30 hours a week which doesn't materialize or results in employment of less than 30 hours a week.

Good cause is appropriate for instances where the lack of transportation or dependent case is short-term or temporary.

 

EXAMPLES:

1. The bus was behind schedule

2. The individual’s car broke down

3. The individual did not have adequate childcare to participate.

 

Transportation, dependent care or other necessary participation expenses that are a more chronic issue may be reason to exempt an individual from BEST.

 

Good cause for non-compliance can also include good cause reasons as outlined in Good Cause 430-05-40-25-10.

 

Disqualifications for BEST

Before disqualifications are applied to BEST participants, the good cause period must be followed. Disqualifications for failure to comply with employment and training and/or non-compliance with basic work requirements are progressive based on occurrence. The disqualification must be entered in the eligibility system and the reason for the disqualification must be documented in the case narrative.

 

The disqualification begins the first day of the month after the Notice of Eligibility denying for non-compliance in the mandatory E&T program was sent to the household, unless the individual requests a fair hearing. For the disqualification time frames see section 430-05-40-40-05.

 

If the individual complies with work registration and or employment and training requirements for which the disqualification was imposed, the individual can be eligible after the disqualification time frame has been served.

 

If the individual becomes exempt during the disqualification time frame, the disqualification time frame must be ended and the individual can be eligible beginning the month following the month they became exempt. The reason the individual became exempt must be documented in the case narrative.

 

Once a disqualification is imposed:

• If an individual in an ongoing case is disqualified and:

  • Complies during the disqualification period, they must serve the one, three or six month disqualification before they can become eligible.

  • Becomes exempt, the individual can be eligible the following month. The reason the individual became exempt must be documented in the case narrative.

• If the case closed and the individual is reapplying and:

  • Has complied, they must serve the one, three or six month disqualification before they can become eligible.

  • Is exempt, the individual is eligible at the point of application. The reason the individual is exempt must be documented in the case narrative.

A work registration and or employment and training disqualification may be imposed after the end of a review period. A notice of eligibility for non- compliance in SNAP Employment and Training must be sent whenever the human service zone becomes aware of a client’s noncompliance with work registration and or employment and training, even if the disqualification begins after the review period expires and the household has not completed their review. The disqualification must be for non-compliance while the case was open.

 

Non-Compliance Notices for BEST

Burleigh and Cass human service zones must use the following notices generated out of the eligibility system when a SNAP disqualification is being imposed:

• SNAP Employment and Training Good Cause Determination

• SNAP Employment and Training Non Compliance

BEST notices must be sent to households as they are automatically counted and reported to USDA – Food and Nutrition Services.