Massac County SNAP Employment & Training Program

The SNAP E&T program helps SNAP participants gain skills and find work that moves them forward to economic self-sufficiency. Through SNAP E&T, SNAP participants have access to training and support services to help them enter or move up in the workforce. These programs also help to reduce barriers to work by providing support services — such as transportation and childcare – as participants prepare for and obtain employment. The state of Illinois is required to operate a SNAP E&T program and receives federal funding annually to operate and administer the program.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) Program is a self-support program to help customers acquire work skills and find employment opportunities. The program also helps customers with work-related expenses for the first 90 days of a job. The program is voluntary for adults who receive non-assistance SNAP benefits, are between the ages of 18 and 55, and are not exempt. Participation in SNAP E&T enables participants to gain work skills and experience, meet the federal work requirement, and become economically self-sufficient. Some participants are hard to serve individuals with limited work histories and experience. Some may need additional education and training to find and keep a job or have other barriers to employment. Individuals will participate in specific programs based upon their individual assessments, identifying strengths and areas for development. All individuals who participate in SNAP E&T program must be assigned to the required number of participation hours, based upon the SNAP allotment and/or the component activity into which they are placed.

SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) can help SNAP participants gain skills, training, or work experience to increase their ability to obtain regular employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency. States are required to operate SNAP E&T programs, and are currently provided about $300 million annually by USDA to administer them. The below graphic is a simplified depiction of how the SNAP E&T program works.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) administers a voluntary SNAP E&T Program within the Division of Family and Community Services (DFCS), Office of Workforce Development (OWFD). SNAP E&T provides employment and training services to SNAP recipients who do not receive TANF Cash and volunteer to participate in the program. The program also helps with work-related expenses for the first 90 days of employment when the job is obtained while participating in SNAP E&T.