315.01 Definition of Voluntary Quit (FSM)

__________________________________________________________________________

When a household files an application for SNAP benefits, or when a participating SNAP household reports the loss of a source of income or a reduction in household earnings, the DHHS worker must determine whether any household member voluntarily quit a job or reduced work effort without good cause.

Any individual in a household has voluntary quit a job when, within 30 days prior to application or at any time while receiving benefits, that individual:

•       Voluntarily and without good cause, quits a job of 30 hours a week or more;

•       Leaves employment unannounced;

•       Does not return to work; or

•       Reduces work effort voluntarily and without good cause, and, after the reduction, is working less than 30 hours per week.

Voluntary quit procedures do not apply to individuals who:

•       End self-employment;

•       Resign a job at the employer’s demand;

•       Are currently on strike; or

Exception: Any local, state, or federal government employee who loses their job because of participation in a strike is considered to have voluntarily quit.

•       Are exempt from work requirements.

Exception: Individuals exempt from work requirements due to employment of 30 hours per week, or due to weekly earnings that equal or exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage, are not exempt from voluntary quit policy.

For voluntary quit purposes, a job must involve either of the following:

•       30 hours or more per week; or

•       Weekly earnings of at least 30 multiplied by the Federal minimum wage, or by the training wage if the individual is subject to it.

Exception: If the individual reduces his or her work hours to less than 30 a week, but continues to earn weekly wages that exceed the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours, the individual remains exempt from SNAP work requirements, and the individual is not considered to have voluntarily quit his or her job.

References: He-W 734.01; RSA 161:2, XIII; RSA 161:4-a, IV; RSA 167:4, I(c); 7 CFR 273.7(j); 7 USC 2015(d)(1)(A)(v)