245.15 Verification Requirements (FSM)

Activity

Verification

Work for pay (i.e. employment or self-attested hours for self-employment)

Employment: pay stubs, BFA Form 756, Employment Verification, or other documentation from the employer

Self-Employment: current tax return, Profit & Loss statement, self-employment logs

 Volunteering

Signed and dated statement from the individual/agency the ABAWD is performing volunteer work for which includes monthly hours

Work for goods or in-kind services (i.e. trading work for rent payment)

Signed and dated statement from the individual the ABAWD is performing work for (i.e. the landlord if trading work for rent) which includes monthly hours

 Participating in an approved work program

Statement/documentation from the program that includes the type of program and monthly hours

Exemption

Verification

Employed for pay at least 30 hours per week or have weekly earnings at least equal to 30 hours times the federal minimum wage

For Employment: Pay stubs, BFA Form 756, Employment Verification, or other documentation from the employer

For Self-Employment: Most current tax return, Profit & Loss statement, or self-employment logs

 Responsible for the care of an adult household member who is disabled

Statement from the disabled individual’s doctor stating they need the ABAWD to care for them

Under age 18 or age 55 or older

Verify age, if questionable, with any reasonable document

 Receiving a temporary or permanent disability benefit

Award letter, current SDX or BENDEX, or any document that verifies type, amount, and frequency

Medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment

§ Proof of temporary or permanent disability benefit (see above)

§ If not receiving disability benefits and the mental or physical unfitness is obvious, no verification is needed (document in case comments)

§ If unfitness is not obvious, a statement from a physician or other medical professional to verify unfitness and duration

Pregnant

Signed/dated doctor’s note

Receiving unemployment compensation benefits (UCB)

Applied for UCB but not yet receiving, if complying with the requirements of the unemployment application process

Summary from NHES or other state unemployment agency

Proof of application/filing from the state unemployment agency

An eligible student attending at least half-time in a recognized high school or equivalency program, training program, college, university, or technical college

Current class schedule; statement from the school

Would also need verification of student eligibility criteria, see PART 239 STUDENTS.

Regularly participating in a supervised alcohol or drug treatment program

Signed statement from the treatment program to verify participation

Living in a SNAP household in which a member is under the age of 18, regardless of relationship to or responsibility for the minor, and regardless of whether the minor is eligible for SNAP

Request verification if questionable – lease, shared shelter statement, a statement from an individual outside of the household who is familiar with household composition

Homeless

Self-attestation is accepted; request verification if questionable

Residing in a town that has been exempted due to a high unemployment rate and/or lack of available jobs

Proof of residency

For current exempt towns, see Section 245.03, Criteria for Exemption from ABAWD Work Requirements

An individual who served in the military, regardless of the discharge status.  

Self-attestation is accepted; request verification if questionable

An individual who is 24 years of age or younger and was in foster care (in any State) when they turned 18, or higher age if the State offers extended foster care to a higher age

Self-attestation is accepted; request verification if questionable