(Revised 05/01/13 ML3365)
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IM 5383
An ABAWD is an individual between the ages of 18 and 50 who is able to work and has no children under 18 years of age in their SNAP household. An individual is not considered an ABAWD until the month following their 18th birthday and is no longer considered an ABAWD the month they turn age 50. (TECS automatically codes all individuals under 18 or 50 and older with a code of NA on the ABRE screen.)
ABAWDS who are not exempt from the ABAWD provisions are only entitled to three months of benefits (consecutive or otherwise) during a 36 month period.
A household containing an individual who is not exempt from the ABAWD provisions must be assigned a 6-month review period, however, the individual is only eligible for a maximum of three ABAWD months or the extended three month benefit period. These households cannot be authorized through.
Prorated or zero benefit months will not count as an ABAWD month.
Exception:
If a household receives a full month’s benefit that after recoupment results in a zero benefit, the month counts as an ABAWD month.
When an ABAWD received NE or EE months in error and total overpayments are established, the months will continue to count as NE or EE months until the claim is paid in full. Once the claim is paid in full, the months must be manually changed.
Example:
Single individual applies for SNAP on March 15 and is not exempt from the ABAWD requirements. Application is approved for March as a prorated month and April, May and June as NE months. Case is close the end of June for failure to comply with ABAWD requirements.
In December, the worker discovers the household was employed at the time of application working 40 hours a week with income resulting in total overpayments. April, May and June continue to count as ABAWD months until the claim is paid in full. Once the claim is paid, the worker would change the months from NE to EX as this individual would have been exempt from the work requirements.
