Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 limits ABAWD eligibility for SNAP to 3 months in any 36-month period, unless the individual meets the ABAWD work requirement or is otherwise exempt. The law also provides that states may qualify to temporarily waive the 3-month time limit in areas with high unemployment or depressed labor markets.
Attached are questions posed by state agencies and Food and Nutrition Service responses that provide clarification on SNAP policy surrounding time-limited participation for ABAWDs.
This memo provides the list of states that are eligible to waive SNAP participation time limits for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents for FY 2014. Under SNAP regulations, a state can qualify for a 12-month statewide ABA WD waiver if the Department of Labor Unemployment Insurance Service determines that it qualifies for extended unemployment benefits.
This memo provides information about which states are eligible to waive Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limits for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) for fiscal year 2013. Under SNAP regulations at 7CFR 273.24(f)(2), a state can qualify for a 12-month statewide ABAWD waiver if the Department of Labor's Unemployment Insurance Service determines it meets the criteria for extended unemployment benefits.
The Food and Nutrition Act restricts the amount of time that able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) may participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to 3 months in a 36-month period, unless the ABAWD meets certain
work requirements or is exempted by the state. SNAP regulations at 7 CFR 273.24(g) provide each state agency with an annual allocation of exemptions from the work requirements of 7 CFR 273.24 for ABAWDs.
This memorandum provides a policy option to states to help soften the impact that reduced SUAs might have on SNAP households in certain state.
The DOL EC Trigger Notice 2011-13, effective April 10, 2011, indicates that 46 states or geographic areas met the EC criteria; however, the 46 qualifying states or geographic areas may suspend the time limits on ABAWDs through at least Sept. 30, 2012
Due to the impact on SNAP benefits resulting from continuing fluctuations in energy prices, FNS is modifying the Standard Utility Allowance blanket waiver memorandum of Oct. 14, 2010 to allow certain states to extend fiscal year (FY) 2010 SUA amounts through March 31, 2011.
It has come to FNS's attention that, due to unusual shifts in utility costs, SNAP benefits to needy families may decrease when states make annual SUA adjustments this year - even if the circumstances of those households remain constant.
The SNAP certification provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 go into effect on April 1, 2009.