Workforce Education Services

As part of the WES Funding Application process you will be required to identify an intended program of study.  Please explore the options below.  If you are uncertain about a specific program’s eligibility for WES funding, please contact a member of our staff for help.

Please note that transfer degrees and general studies are NOT eligible for WES funding

Eligibility for WES funding can be determined by various methods including household income, military service and discharge record, receipt of specific DSHS benefits, and other classifications eligible for retraining benefits.  If you are uncertain about your eligibility, please contact a member of our staff for help.

• You receive a monthly TANF grant from DSHS
• You receive food benefits (food stamps) from DSHS
• You receive unemployment, have received or exhausted unemployment in the past 48 months
• Are you a military veteran discharged within the past 48 months
• You have been identified as a Displaced Homemaker (loss of primary income due to becoming widowed, separated or divorced)?
• Your household income meets the criteria of 200% of Poverty Guidelines of below

As part of the WES Funding Application process you are required to complete a financial aid application.  If you are uncertain about which one to complete, please contact a member of our staff for help.  Please DO NOT complete both applications.

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and eligible non-citizens
  OR
• Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) – eligible non-citizens with WA residency such as 1079 students, DREAMers, and DACA

The Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program provides assistance with tuition, fees, books, transportation, and other support services to students who receive food benefits from DSHS. Participation in the BFET program will allow a student to keep food benefits while attending college, as well as access child care assistance through Working Connections Child Care. Students must be in a short-term workforce education program of study in order to qualify. 

The Early Achievers Grant is for students who are working toward a certificate or degree in Early Childhood Education and are employed in a childcare center or family home that is participating in Washington Early Achievers for a minimum of 40 hours per month or 10 hours per week. (See the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges website for more information on the Early Achievers Grant). The program will cover tuition, fees, books, and other support services for eligible students. Must be a Washington resident in order to qualify. 

The Opportunity Grant is for Washington State residents who meet the income criteria of 200% of poverty level. (The chart under the eligibility determination section shows the income criteria.) The program provides 45 credits of tuition and fee assistance, up to $1000 per year for books and tools, and other support services for students in approved workforce programs.

WorkFirst is Washington State’s welfare reform program for individuals who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). DSHS administers TANF, which provides temporary cash for families in need. The WorkFirst program helps participants access education and training in order to find and keep jobs. Enrolling in Adult Education classes, including GED, High School Diploma, and ESL as well as Workforce Education, qualify as WorkFirst participation. Through Workforce Education Services, participants may receive tuition and textbook assistance as well as advising and mentoring to ensure graduation and completion.

The Worker Retraining funding is a program which provides options for unemployed or underemployed workers to access education and training to maintain employment or to re-enter the workforce. The eligibility criteria includes:

• Currently receiving unemployment benefits
• Eligible to receive unemployment benefits
• Exhausted unemployment benefits within the past 48 months
• Displaced homemaker (loss of primary income due to becoming widowed, separated or divorced within the past 48 months)
• Military veteran discharged within the past 48 months. Students may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits while attending school and not participate in job search activities if the training meets the Commissioner Approved Training criteria approved by the Employment Security Department. The Worker Retraining program at Big Bend provides assistance with tuition and books for one quarter of attendance. Funding for subsequent quarters depends on availability of funds.

The Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Requirement and Time Limit

If you are age 18 – 49, able to work, and don’t have any dependents, you might need to meet both the general work requirements and an additional work requirement for ABAWDs to get SNAP for more than 3 months in 3 years (the time limit).  You can meet the ABAWD work requirement by doing any one of these things:

• Work at least 80 hours a month.  Work can be for pay, for goods or services (for something other than money), unpaid, or as a volunteer;
• Participate in a work program at least 80 hours a month.  A work program could be SNAP Employment and Training or another federal, state, or local work program;
• Participate in a combination of work and work program hours for a total of at least 80 hours a month;
• Participate in workfare for the number of hours assigned to you each month (the number of hours will depend on the amount of your SNAP benefit.)

You are excused from the ABAWD work requirement and time limit if you are any one of these things:

• Unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation;
• Pregnant;
• Have someone under 18 in your SNAP household;
• Excused from the general work requirements (see above). 

If you have to meet the ABAWD work requirement but you don’t, you will lose your benefits after 3 months.  To get SNAP again, you must meet the ABAWD work requirement for a 30-day period or become excused.  Otherwise, you need to wait until the end of your 3-year period, when you’ll get another 3 months under the time limit.