Extended Three Month Benefit Period 430-05-40-50-25

(Revised 01/01/04 ML2893)

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  1. Once an individual has received the three ABAWD months and is denied for failure to comply with the ABAWD work requirements or the individual failed to recertify, extended benefits may be granted for three full consecutive months if the individual:
  1. Did not voluntarily quit a job without good cause in the last 30 days and has worked 80 hours or more in any 30 consecutive day period. The individual need not be currently employed and the 80 hours includes volunteer and in-kind work.

Volunteer work is when arrangements have been made with a school, hospital, public service agency, library, nursing home, church, or other community organizations.

 

In-kind work is when an individual works in exchange for goods or services (e.g. working in exchange for free or reduced rent).

  1. Participated in and complies with the requirements of a work program for 80 hours or more in any 30 consecutive day period.
  2. Participated in and complies with the requirements of a SNAP Workfare Program (none in North Dakota).
  3. A 30-day period means any 30 consecutive days since the individual was denied for failure to comply with the ABAWD requirements or failed to recertify. It does not have to be a calendar month - it may be a combination of two months. The employment rule of at least 80 hours in a 30-day period means the individual must have worked 80 hours in any 30-day period before eligibility may be reestablished.

The worker must enter the code of EE (exemption extension) on the ABRE screen in TECS.

Example:

An individual received the three ABAWD months in April, May and June and did not recertify. On August 16, the individual reapplies and verifies having worked 80 hours in 30 days and lost the employment through no fault of their own. This individual is eligible for the extended three-month benefit period, September, October, and November. August does not count as one of the three months due to proration.

  1. Once an individual has received the three ABAWD months, and it has been determined that the individual quit a job without good cause, the individual does not qualify for the extended three month benefit period.

Example:

An individual received the three ABAWD months in April, May and June and during the month of June found employment. The individual failed to recertify for July. On August 15, the individual quit this job and reapplies for SNAP benefits. The individual did not have good cause and a voluntary quit penalty is applied. The job does not make this individual eligible for the extended three-month benefit period because the voluntary quit penalty must be applied.

 

If the individual would have applied for benefits October 1 (30 days or more after the job quit), the individual would qualify for the extended three month benefit period because the voluntary quit penalty no longer applies and the individual had 80 hours of employment in a 30 day period after receiving the initial three ABAWD months.

  1. The extended three month benefit period can only be approved once in a 36-month period. The three months run consecutively. Once approved, the individual has received the extension regardless of whether they receive benefits for all three months. Case closings, disqualifications or zero benefits will not stop the three month count.

Example:

An individual received the three ABAWD months in April, May and June and did not recertify. On August 16, the individual reapplies and verifies having worked 80 hours in 30 days and lost the employment through no fault of their own. This individual is eligible for the extended three-month benefit period, September, October, and November.

 

On September 10 the individual provides a change report with attached verification of new employment and requests case closure September 30. Even though the individual is no longer receiving benefits, the extended three month benefit period continues through the month of November. This individual would not be eligible for an additional extended three-month benefit period during this individual's 36-month period.