SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Program

The SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program offers a wide range of opportunities to help you find training, skills, and work that’s right for you. E&T is a completely voluntary program.  There are no penalties if you choose not to participate, or if you do participate and later decide to stop.  E&T services are a combined effort between the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), and community partnerships.

SNAP recipients have access to Employment and Training Services such as:

  • Short-term vocational or technical training;
  • On-the-job training;
  • Self-Employment Training;
  • Work Readiness Training;
  • Internships;
  • Pre-Apprenticeship/Apprenticeships;
  • Job placement services;
  • Job retention, or follow-up case management services; 
  • High School Equivalency or GED;
  • English language training; 
  • Literacy or other adult basic education; 
  • Job-search training, such as resume writing and interviewing skills;
  • Group and individual job search activities. 

When you participate in an E&T program, you can receive help with transportation, dependent care or other supportive services such as reimbursements for uniforms or personal safety items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you:

  • At least 16 years old?
  • Receiving SNAP benefits?
  • Not receiving  WorkFirst New Jersey Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (WFNJ TANF)?
  • Willing and able to work upon program completion?

If so, you fit the criteria and can take the next steps to connect with SNAP E&T!

You can:

  • Gain skills;
  • Receive one-on-one career counseling;
  • Have access to community-based partnerships;
  • Receive job leads that could result in employment;          
  • Receive assistance with some training and employment related fees;
  • Receive reimbursement for items such as books, school supplies, transportation, uniforms and work tools; and,
  • Obtain industry-recognized credentials and connect with employers with in-demand jobs.

How to prepare for your first day:

  • Talk to your county social service agency worker about setting up child care;
  • Talk to your County Social Service Agency about arranging transportation before you go;
  • Get directions for your program location;
  • Pack a lunch;
  • Bring all necessary paperwork and identification.

How to succeed in employment and training:

  • Attend every scheduled day;
  • Arrive on time;
  • Work with your case manager to develop a plan that meets your needs and fulfills your requirements;
  • Take advantage of workshops, job fairs, etc.;
  • Call your program if you have problems getting there.

Please let your County Social Service Agency know as soon as possible. It’s best to do this at least a couple of weeks before your first day. This will help the County Social Service Agency make sure you have the support you need on your new endeavor.

As a SNAP recipient, you can voluntarily participate in SNAP E&T, even if you are already employed! This could help you improve your skills in your current job, or start your career path in a different industry.  You can participate in these voluntary activities with no risk to your SNAP benefits. If you would like to participate in SNAP E&T or would like to learn more, please contact your County Social Service Agency.

Some expenses could be provided up-front or reimbursed through the E&T program such as transportation, child care, and items needed to participate in a work activity. These expenses are called participant allowances. They must be reasonable, necessary, and directly related to participation in the work activity. Your caseworker can help you find out what allowances are best suited for you.

If you need help paying for these items, please your County Social Service Agency and/or a representative at your work activity.

If you get a job while going to the E&T program, you also may be able to continue receiving reduced-cost child care through your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. Any out-of-pocket child care costs can be counted as an expense on your SNAP case. If you need help paying for your transportation to your job before you receive your first paycheck, you may also get transportation expenses paid until your first check. The goal is to help you keep your job, advance your career, and achieve self-sufficiency.

Congratulations on getting a job! There are many things that determine SNAP eligibility such as your income, expenses, and household size. Your county social service agency worker will review your case and notify you about continued eligibility for SNAP.

For more information on New Jersey’s SNAP E&T program, contact your case worker or your County Social Service Agency.

For more information about activities, you can visit the Department of Labor’s website at www.nj.gov/labor/careerservices. There, you can schedule an appointment with your local One-Stop Career Center for personalized, one-on-one career support. Be sure to explore the website’s many other resources, including a calendar of job fairs, specific job and apprenticeship openings, special supports for groups like ex-offenders and people with disabilities, and numerous other tools to help you choose, apply for, and get a job.