ABAWD stands for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents. In 1996 welfare reform, changes designed to reduce federal welfare spending, created the TANF program to replace AFDC, and restricted SNAP benefits for ABAWDs.
Starting in April 2009, ABAWD work requirements were waived statewide due to the economic recession. Prior to this, some individual counties had ABAWD suspended based on high unemployment. This type of waiver LSA (Labor Surplus Area) was given to areas that have unemployment rates over 10% for two consecutive years.
With passage of House Bill 1909, waivers for ABAWD work requirements can no longer be sought by DHS. All Oklahoma counties began applying ABAWD work requirements again effective October 2013.
Application of ABAWD policy in Oklahoma returned in July 2023 after the COVID pandemic, when the ABAWD status of individuals was waived from 03/2020- 06/2023. The time clock of all individuals was started over fresh, to allow for clients to be eligible for 3 countable K months again.
Every ABAWD is entitled to three full months of SNAP in a 36 month period without meeting the work requirement. Once the initial 3 full months have expired, the individual can continue to receive SNAP if they meet an exemption or the individual can regain eligibility for an additional 3 consecutive months (see requirements for regaining eligibility below).
It is important to determine ABAWD status at every certification and renewal to prevent overpayment of benefits. ABAWD status is recorded in the tracking system and the worker must case note the way ABAWD status was determined.
After the initial three “free” months, an ABAWD may regain eligibility for an additional three consecutive months by showing 80 hours worked in a 30 day period since last receipt of benefits.
After these additional three months, they must either meet the work rule* or meet an exemption or will not be eligible to receive additional SNAP benefits until the 36 months are over.
Reference the following articles for additional information concerning ABAWD:
SNAP: ABAWD Meeting the Work Requirement
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