General Work Requirement Sect 6d of Food and Nutrition Act and 7 CFR 2737 vs ABAWD Work Requirement and Time Limit Sect 6o and 27324 The SNAP Population General SNAP Work Requirement ID: 667415
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (A..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs)Slide2
General Work Requirement
Sect. 6(d) of Food and Nutrition Act
and 7 CFR 273.7
vs.
ABAWD Work Requirement and
Time Limit
Sect. 6(o) and 273.24 Slide3
The SNAP PopulationSlide4
General SNAP Work Requirement
Applies to people who are:
Age 16 - 59
Fit for work
Working under 30 hrs per week
Not already complying with work requirements of another program
Not studentsNot responsible for a child under 6 273.7(b)
Requires:
Register for work
Participate in an E&T or workfare program if assigned by State
Accept suitable employment if offered
No voluntarily quit or reduction in work hours under 30 per week
273.7(a)Slide5
Failure to Comply with the General Work Requirement
Ineligible for benefits (sanctioned) from 1 month to indefinitely, depending on the number of occurrences and the State’s chosen option
Sanction periods:
1
st
strike: 1 - 3 months
2
nd strike: 3 - 6 months3rd strike: 6 months to permanent 273.7(f)(2)Slide6
ABAWD Work Requirement & Time Limit
Applies to people who are:
Age 18 - 49
Fit for employment
Do not live in a SNAP household with a minor
Not pregnant
Not already exempt from general work requirementNot covered by time limit waiver or 15 percent exemption
273.24(c)
Requires that ABAWDs:
Work or participate in a work program (e.g. E&T) at least 20 hours per week, averaged monthly
Participate in and comply with a workfare program
273.24(a)Slide7
Failure to Fulfill the ABAWD Work Requirement and the Time Limit
ABAWDs are limited to 3 months of SNAP eligibility in any 3-year period while not fulfilling the ABAWD work requirement or otherwise exempt
The time limit is the teeth behind the ABAWD work requirementSlide8
Countable
Months
A “countable month” is any month in which an ABAWD receives a
FULL
month of benefits while
not
fulfilling the ABAWD work requirement or otherwise exempt.
273.24(b)(1)Slide9
15 Percent Exemptions
Each 15 percent exemption can exempt 1 ABAWD from the time limit for 1 month
FNS provides a new allotment each fall, and unused exemptions carry-over
States can use 15 percent exemptions as they see fit
273.24(g)
Time Limit Waivers
States can request to waive the time limit in areas with high unemployment or lack of sufficient jobs
If, when, and where to request a waiver is a State decision, but any request must be supported with evidence273.24(f)Slide10
Regaining Eligibility
ABAWDs who have exhausted their 3 countable months can regain eligibility:
Meet an exemption from ABAWD work requirements
Fulfill
the ABAWD
work requirement for 30 consecutive days
ABAWDs who regain eligibility by working get an additional 3 consecutive countable months
273.24(d) and 273.24(e)Slide11
Options for measuring the 36-month time period:
Rolling Clock: looks back 36 months from any point in time
Fixed Clock: Starts on a certain day and runs for 36 months with a set start/stop date.
States can choose to have –
Same period for everyone
Individual period
No matter what, it’s always 36 months
273.24(b)(3)Slide12
Fixed Clock
Same period for everyone
Every ABAWD in the State is on the same
36-month
timelineSlide13
Fixed Clock
Individual periods
Each ABAWD has their own
36-month
period, based on the time they were certified for benefits or became an ABAWD. Slide14
Rolling Clock
Looks back
36 months
from any point in time, and clicks forward as months pass
1 month later, the clock rolls forward and August 2012 falls off . . .Slide15
What needs to be tracked each month for each individual ABAWD?
Participation status
Countable months
Fulfillment of the work requirement
Exemption status
15 percent exemption
Good cause
Additional 3-month eligibilitySlide16
Effectively Identifying ABAWDs
Screen at certification and determine ABAWD status
Set certification periods consistent with household circumstances
Review the case file and household circumstances at periodic report and recertification Slide17
States are responsible for notifying ABAWDs
Explain the work requirement, time limit, and exemption criteria at certification, periodic report, and recertification
Provide an adequate NOAA prior to enforcing the time limit
Provide an additional notice prior to waiver expiration Slide18
Final Thoughts
Inaccurate application of the time limit can significantly impact State error rates
States can still request to waive the time limit
States are
not
required to assign E&T for all ABAWDs; States can run voluntary or mandatory E&T programs for ABAWDsSlide19
Resources
Guide to Serving ABAWDs Subject to Time Limited Participation
June 2015
ABAWD Questions and Answers
memo
March 2015
Expiration of ABAWD Time Limit Waivers memoDecember 2013
ABAWD Questions and Answers memoPartnerwebhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/able-bodied-adults-without-dependents-abawds