SNAP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Activity Code 80: Job Readiness and Job Preparation
Job Readiness/Preparation prepares the individual for the workplace by teaching interviewing techniques, preparation of resumes, employer expectations, and soft skills. This activity may also include career exploration and activities designed to improve self-esteem. These activities may be conducted in workshops, seminars, or classroom sessions coordinated through the local CareerLink (One Stop).
An ABAWD may use up to 10 hours a week in job readiness/job preparation in conjunction with other activities, other than Job Search, to meet their required average of 20 hours per week (80 hours per month).
Activity Code 81: English-as-a-Second Language (ESL)
ESL includes any formal education training specifically designed to improve an individual's proficiency in English needed to compete in the current job market.
Activity Code 82: Adult Basic Education (ABE)
ABE provides an individual with a basic literacy level, equivalent to successful completion of grade eight, in order to fulfill an employment goal.
Activity Code 83: General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
GED/High School Remediation is an education activity designed to prepare a person to qualify for a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. This includes any formal education training provided to an individual functioning at an eighth-grade level or above. High school remediation involves repetition of such instruction previously given to the participant in order to improve the individual’s educational functioning level. Normal enrollment and participation in high school is not an allowable activity.
Activity Code 84: Skill/Vocational Education
Skill/Vocational Training will provide individuals with specific occupational skills needed in the current job market. Vocational skills can include a wide range of training programs from learning to type to computer repair to entrepreneurship. Participation in this component is limited to a 24-month period unless the participant is meeting all of the below-listed criteria required for an extension. Only educational activities that directly enhance the employability of the participant are allowable.
The individual may be credited with one hour of unmonitored study time for each hour of instructional time. The individual may be credited with additional monitored study time if the student provides documentation of the college’s study policy verifying that additional study time is necessary; and a third-party verifies the student’s monitored study time.
Effective August 2020, individuals who exhaust their first 12 months of vocational education will be granted an exception to continue participation in the activity for an additional 12 months.
To be eligible for (an) additional six-month extension(s) beyond 24 months, the student:
• Must be engaged in a degree or certificate program that will likely lead to employment in a High Priority Occupation as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry;
• Must not be enrolled in any remedial courses;
• Must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or above; and
• Must have completed an average of 8 credit hours per semester*.
*For educational programs that do not assign credits or GPAs, the educational institution will be required to confirm that the individual is meeting satisfactory progress toward completion as defined by the institution.
Activity Code 85: Vocational Work Experience
Vocational Work Experience (VWE) is a paid work activity, which enhances an individual’s employability by helping to develop good work habits and basic skills needed for the work environment through up to six months of paid employment in the public sector.
VWE will be available for individuals who have never worked or have been unemployed for a considerable length of time. VWE can also be used to offer the individual who is currently enrolled in an advanced degree program an opportunity to apply classroom theories in a work setting, such as an internship or externship. Participation in this activity is limited to a 12-month period, with extensions available upon approval by the Bureau of Employment Programs (BEP). Extensions may be requested by emailing RA-PWBEP.SNAP@pa.gov.
Activity Code 86: Paid Work Experience
Paid Work Experience (PWE) is a paid work activity, which enhances an individual’s employability by helping to develop good work habits and basic skills needed for the work environment through paid employment in the public sector.
PWE will be available for individuals who have never worked or have been unemployed for a considerable length of time. Participation in this activity is limited to a 12-month period, with extensions available upon approval by the Bureau of Employment Programs (BEP). Extensions may be requested by emailing RA-PWBEP.SNAP@pa.gov.
Activity Code 87: KEYS Postsecondary Education
KEYS is an educational component leading to a credit-bearing certificate program or career-specific associate degree. Participation in this component is limited to a 24-month period unless the participant is meeting all of the below-listed criteria required for an extension. Clients must be enrolled at one of the 14 community colleges, 14 state-owned universities, or 78 career & technology schools. Only educational activities that directly enhance the employability of the participant are allowable.
The individual should be credited with one hour of unmonitored study time for each hour of instructional time. The individual may be credited with additional monitored study time if the student provides documentation of the college’s study policy verifying that additional study time is necessary; and a third-party verifies the student’s monitored study time.
Students taking online classes may not count more hours for the class than they would receive if they were taking the class on campus. A student that is participating in a credit or non-credit clinical, internship, externship, and/or practicum must have the activity monitored and documented by a third party to receive credit for the full hourly participation.
Sub-project code “48” is used for students that have exhausted their initial 12 months of KEYS Postsecondary Education and are utilizing the 12-month exception period. Sub-project code “49” is used for students that have exhausted their 24-month KEYS Postsecondary Education time limit and have been determined eligible to use a six-month extension period. Opening sub-project Code 49 certifies that the student has met all of the conditions to receive the extension.
To be eligible for (an) additional six-month extension(s), the student:
• Must be engaged in a degree or certificate program that will likely lead to employment in a High Priority Occupation as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry;
• Must not be enrolled in any remedial courses;
• Must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or above; and
• Must have completed an average of 8 credit hours per semester
In addition, for students enrolled in a KEYS Expansion school, sub-project codes have been created that will be used to identify the type of KEYS expansion institution the individual is attending. Sub-project code “45” is used for students attending a career and technical school, while sub-project code “46” is used for students attending a state-owned university.
Activity Code 88: Non-KEYS Postsecondary Education
This is an educational activity leading to a credit-bearing certificate program or career specific associate degree. Participation in this component is limited to a 24-month period unless the participant is meeting all of the below-listed criteria required for an extension. Only educational activities that directly enhance the employability of the participant are allowable.
The individual should be credited with one hour of unmonitored study time for each hour of instructional time. The individual may be credited with additional monitored study time if the student provides documentation of the college’s study policy verifying that additional study time is necessary and a third-party documents and verifies the student’s monitored study time.
Students taking online classes may not count more hours for the class then they would receive if they were taking the class on campus. A student that is participating in a credit or non-credit clinical, internship, externship, and/or practicum must have the activity monitored and documented by a third party to receive credit for the full hourly participation.
Effective August 2020, individuals who exhaust their first 12 months of vocational education will be granted an exception to continue participation in the activity for an additional 12 months.
To be eligible for (an) additional six-month extension(s) beyond 24 months, the student:
• Must be engaged in a degree or certificate program that will likely lead to employment in a High Priority Occupation as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry;
• Must not be enrolled in any remedial courses;
• Must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or above; and
• Must have completed an average of 8 credit hours per semester*.
*For educational programs that do not assign credits or GPAs, the educational institution will be required to confirm that the individual is meeting satisfactory progress toward completion as defined by the institution.
Activity Code 89: Supervised Job Search
Supervised Job Search is an activity which serves job-ready participants engaged in job-seeking activities, either individually or in a group. A specific plan of activities must be outlined on the individual’s Employment Development Plan (EDP). Supervised Job Search may include counseling, provision of local labor market information, instruction in job-seeking skills, use of telephone banks or online job search portals like JobGateway, etc. Individuals who are employed or who have accepted an offer of employment are not eligible for enrollment in the Supervised Job Search activity. Participants should be credited with one hour for each job contact they make.
Supervised Job search is limited to 60 days in a 12-month period. If an individual finds employment or stops participating anytime within the 60 days, the supervised job search activity is completed, and the individual is not eligible for supervised job search again for 12 months. The supervised job search activity is not to exceed a maximum of 60 days.
An ABAWD may only use up to 10 hours a week in job search in conjunction with other activities, other than Job Readiness/Preparation, to meet their required average of 20 hours per week (80 hours per month).
Activity Code 90: Community Service
Community Service is an unpaid work activity used to provide work experience for individuals in the federal, state, or local government or nonprofit sector arranged for by the SNAP recipient. Community Service enhances an individual's employability by helping to develop good work habits and basic skills. The number of hours of participation required of an ABAWD is determined by the county assistance office, which obtains this figure by dividing the household’s SNAP allotment by the federal minimum wage. The required number of hours will be identified on the Employment Development Plan (EDP). This activity is prospectively verified through completion of the PA 1938 Community Service Verification Form.
Note: An ABAWD may not combine Community Service with any other E&T activity to meet the ABAWD Work Requirement.
Activity Code 91: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Used to track wrap-around services provided to dual-enrolled WIOA and SNAP E&T recipients. Services can be provided under SNAP E&T if they are not already being provided by the WIOA grant that provided to the participant through the PA CareerLink center. Wrap-around services include, but are not limited to, case management, SPALs, and participant reimbursements.
Activity Code 92: Case Management
Includes services such as post-assessment development of the IEP, progress monitoring, coordination with service providers, and in-person, telephonic, and virtual case management meetings with a participant. This activity is available to all individuals enrolled in at least one other SNAP E&T activity code.
Activity Code 93: Job Retention
Job Retention is a work activity intended to provide services for up to 90 days to participants who secured employment while enrolled in the SNAP E&T program. Job retention activities include services and activities that will help a participant retain their new employment. Services and activities may include parenting and family responsibility classes, family financial planning, organization skills, mentoring, peer support activities, job development, job coaching, workplace literacy, etc. This activity is available to employed participants who secured employment as a result of participation in an E&T program. This activity is limited to 90 days after the SNAP participant begins employment.
A SNAP E&T participant may choose whether or not to receive job retention services, however if the participant does opt to receive job retention services, any other Activity Codes must be closed out the day before the open date for AC-93. The participant remains eligible for Special Allowances (SPALs) and Child Care during the retention period, even if SNAP benefits close, as long as the closure was not due to a sanction or disqualification.
ABAWDs in job retention not working at least 80 hours per month may participate in job retention services for the number of hours required to meet the 80-hour monthly requirement.
Updated October 25, 2022, replacing May 19, 2021