OAR 461-130-0305: General Provisions; Employment Programs

(1) This division of rules states: (a) The requirements for an individual participating in the employment programs of the Pre-TANF, REF, SNAP, and TANF programs. The employment programs are the Jobs Opportunity and Basic Skills (JOBS), REP, and SNAP Employment and Training (see OAR 461-001-0020) employment programs. (The employment and training requirements for ABAWD individuals in the SNAP program are also covered in OAR 461-135-0520.) (b) The effect of a labor strike on the eligibility of an individual for program benefits. (2) The following definitions apply to OAR 461-130-0305 through 461-130-0335 and OAR 461-135-0520: (a) "Exempt" means: (A) In all programs except the TANF program, an individual who the Department determines is not mandatory (see subsection (b) of this section) for an employment program in accordance with OAR 461-130-0310. (B) In the TANF program, a parent (see OAR 461-001-0000) or caretaker relative (see OAR 461-001-0000) in the need group (see OAR 461-110-0630) who meets a federal exemption (see OAR 461-130-0310). “Exempt” individuals are not eligible to participate in the JOBS program. (b) "Mandatory" means: (A) In all programs except the SNAP and TANF programs, an individual in the need group who the Department determines must participate in an employment program in accordance with OAR 461-130-0310. (B) In the SNAP program, an individual in the need group who the Department determines must register for an employment program in accordance with OAR 461-130-0310. (C) In the TANF program, mandatory participants, who are not otherwise federally exempt, are JOBS eligible individuals in the need group who the Department determines must participate in an employment program in accordance with OAR 461-130-0310. (c) "Volunteer" means: (A) An individual who is not mandatory and chooses to participate in an employment program. (B) The following individuals may volunteer to participate in an employment program: (i) In the SNAP program, an individual who is an ABAWD living in one of the SNAP time limit exempt areas (see OAR 461-135-0520) who is either exempt (see subsection (a) of this section) or mandatory and chooses to participate in SNAP Employment and Training. (ii) An individual who is not an ABAWD and is either exempt or mandatory and chooses to participate in SNAP Employment and Training. (iii) In the TANF program, a JOBS volunteer is an individual who is federally mandatory and eligible to participate in an employment program, but who may not be disqualified as they meet a state exemption according to OAR 461-130-0310. (iv) In the REF program, an REP volunteer is an individual who is exempt (see subsection (a) of this section) and chooses to participate in the REP program. (3) An individual must provide the information necessary for the Department to determine each of the following: (a) The participation classification of the individual (see OAR 461-130-0310); (b) The level of participation of the individual; and (c) If applicable, whether an individual had good cause (see OAR 461-130-0327) for any failure to meet a requirement of an employment program. (4) In the SNAP program, a mandatory individual (see OAR 461-130-0310(3)(b)) is registered for the employment program when a member of the filing group (see OAR 461-110-0370) or an authorized representative (see OAR 461-115-0090 and 461-115-0140) signs the SNAP program application.