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Expanded Categorical Eligibility (Arkansas) - SNAP (Food Stamps)

Arkansas has expanded the definition of Categorical Eligibility in its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamp Program) by including participation in the programs or conditions listed below. If any member of a SNAP (Food Stamp) household that lives in the State receives benefits or services from any Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program shown, then the Household is considered Categorically Eligible for SNAP benefits. See the benefit descriptions following the list.

·        Child-Care Assistance

·        TEA Cash Assistance

·        Mentoring Services

·        Case Management Services

·        Employment Bonus

·        Transportation Assistance

·        Job Retention Payments

Benefit Descriptions

·        Child-care assistance – This is limited to child-care assistance paid to current TEA cash assistance recipients and child-care assistance paid to former TEA cash assistance recipients through extended support services.

·        TEA cash assistance – These monthly payments are available to help meet the family's basic needs while the parent or other adult relative works toward increasing his or her earning potential. An eligible family may receive cash assistance for no longer than 24 months. TEA cash assistance is also available to help meet the needs of children who are being cared for by adult relatives other than a parent. Assistance to such relatives is available without regard to a specified time limit.

·        Mentoring services – This service is designed to provide clients with the support needed to move from welfare to work. Mentoring services will be provided as long as it is deemed appropriate by the worker, coordinator and mentee. If the TEA case closes due to employment, these services may be provided for up to six months after the date of closure.

·        Case management services and extended case management services – Case management is the process of coordinating and brokering the multiple services needed to achieve progress towards self-sufficiency. Case Managers serve as a point of contact for the client and a point of accountability for the agency. Case management services will be provided to those individuals who need assistance before and after accepting employment. This service will be provided as long as the client is eligible. Extended case management may be provided for up to 12 months after cash assistance has been terminated due to employment.

·        Employment Bonus – An Employment Bonus cash payment will be made to any family that becomes income ineligible due to employment or who requests the cash assistance case be closed due to employment. Only one Employment Bonus may be authorized to a family within a 12-month period.

·        Transportation assistance – When a TEA case closes due to employment (by agency determination or at the family's request), the family is automatically eligible to receive two months of Extended Support Services (ESS) Transportation assistance. There is no limit to the number of times a family may receive ESS Transportation assistance.

·        Job retention payments – When a TEA case closes due to employment, the family may receive, during the 12-month period following case closure, a cash payment for the purpose of enabling the adult to retain his or her job. The amount of payment will be the actual amount needed to resolve the job-related need.

This list is all-inclusive. Other benefits funded in whole or in part by TANF funds will not confer categorical eligibility. This definition applies to a finding of eligibility by the county office. This means a household cannot be considered categorically eligible under these rules unless at least one household member made application to receive some type of TEA benefit provided through the DHS county office, and was found eligible to receive such benefits.

NOTE: Programs and conditions making a household categorically eligible for SNAP (Food Stamps) in your State may be in effect for short periods and/or change at times other than at the Federal fiscal year boundaries. You can get the latest information from your local SNAP agency or from the SNAP (Food Stamp) State Information Hotline for your state. If you find something that should be updated on the list above, please notify us by email at WorkWORLD@vcu.edu so that we may include it in the next update.

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