SNAP: UpdatedABAWD Meeting the Work Rule

USDA/FNS SNAP WORK Requirements

If an individual is age 18-54*, able to work, and don’t have any dependents, they need to meet the ABAWD work requirement. This can be met by any of the following things:

  • Work at least 80 hours per 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 for at least 80 hours per month. A work program could be a SNAP Employment and Training or other federal, state, or local work program;
  • Participate in a combination of work and work program hours for a total of at least 80 hours per month;
  • Participate in workfare for the number of hours assigned to you each month.

The client must report if their hours drop below 20 hours per week so that the case status can be updated.

Some Frequently Asked Questions are listed below:

Q1. If a person works 20 hours a week at his apartment complex in exchange for the monthly rent expense, is he exempt from the ABAWD requirements?
Yes. This person would not be considered “exempt” by definition in the policy, 50-5-100 . This person would be considered as “meeting the work rule” defined as “working continuously 20 hours per week, averaged 80 hours per month. As long as he continues to work the required hours, then he may continue to apply and be determined eligible for SNAP benefits with no time limits, as he/she is meeting the ABAWD work rule.
Q2. Must we verify the number of hours worked?
If an employer/employee relationship exists, verify work hours using pay stubs and ask if the hours worked is representative. Document in case notes the number of hours worked and how they were verified. If pay stubs do not reflect the full number of hours worked, be sure to include any good cause reason or combination of work/work program/volunteer hours. For self-employment, we can attempt to request verification for contract or 1099 employees. Accept client’s statement of work hours involved in self-employment unless questionable.
Q3. Is a person who works over 20 hours a week for a non-profit organization as a volunteer exempt from the ABAWD requirements?
No, they are not exempt; but they are considered to be continuing to meet the work rule as the number of hours worked is 20 or more hours a week.
Q4. If meeting work rule and falls below 20 hours/week and is now ineligible after receipt of 3 free “K” months , etc., who closes the case—the Worker or Remedy?
Worker can close the food benefits with reason “80 – ABAWD without required work history.”
Q5. If a person works 15 hours per week at Taco Bell and volunteers 5 hours per week for a religious/community organization, are they meeting the ABAWD requirement?
Yes, the combination of working and volunteering equals 20 hours per week. The client is considered an ABAWD meeting the work rule and would be coded as “W” in IMS.
Q6. A person declares self-employment income and states that they are involved in self-employment work approximately 25 hours per week. What verification is required and does the income have to be meeting the minimum wage requirement?
No minimum wage requirement is needed to be considered meeting the work rule for ABAWD. If the person is a contract employee or has 1099, we can request. The client’s statement of hours worked can be accepted unless questionable.
Q7. What if an individual missed fulfilling the ABAWD work requirement because of absent days from the job?
If an individual missed some hours from work, we need to determine if good cause exists. Good cause exists if the absence is temporary and includes circumstances beyond the person’s control, such as illness, illness of another household member requiring the presence of the ABAWD, unavailability of transportation, or a household emergency. The case notes should be very detailed on the specifics on why good cause is being granted.
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