| DATE: | September 28, 2022 |
| SUBJECT: | SNAP - FY 2023 Allocations of Discretionary Exemptions for Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) - Not Adjusted for Carryover |
| TO: | All State Agencies Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) |
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) limits the time able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) may participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to three months in any 36-month period, unless an individual fulfills certain work requirements or is otherwise exempt from the time limit. However, the Act allocates a number of monthly exemptions to the ABAWD time limit for each fiscal year, based on 12 percent of a state’s estimated number of covered individuals, as defined in section 6(o)(6)(A)(ii) of the Act.
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for fiscal year (FY) 2023 in the second column of the attached table. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.
FNS is also including the total discretionary exemptions available for FY 2022 in the third column of the attached table as a helpful reference on the potential total number of discretionary exemptions available to each state for FY 2023. FNS first published these figures through the April 14, 2022, memorandum entitled Fiscal Year 2022 Allocations of Discretionary Exemptions for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents. Please bear in mind that the figures in the third column do not account for each states’ usage of discretionary exemptions over the course of FY 2022. As a reminder, states must track their usage of discretionary exemptions on an ongoing basis and report final figures via the FNS-583 form no later than Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, 45 days after the end of the reporting period for FY 2022. Subsequently, once all required data is available, FNS will issue an updated memorandum providing the total number of exemptions available to each state for FY 2023 based on caseload adjustments and exemptions used in FY 2022.
While states have great flexibility in applying discretionary exemptions, states must document their application in case records prior to monthly quality control sample selections, and must track and report the amount of exemptions used via the FNS-583. State agencies with questions regarding discretionary exemptions usage and tracking rules should contact their respective FNS regional office representative.
Catrina Kamau
Branch Chief
Certification Policy Branch
Program Development Division
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)