245 ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS (ABAWDS) (FSM)

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An able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) is a person who is aged 18 but is younger than age 55 who does not have a child under age 18 in their SNAP household and who is fit for work.

ABAWDs must meet special work requirements, unless exempt from these requirements. To receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, non-exempt ABAWDs must do one or more of these things:

·        work—work can be for pay, for goods or services (like trading work for rent payment, also referred to as in-kind services), or as a volunteer; or

·     be in an approved work program. See Section 245.05, ABAWD Work Requirements, for details on approved work programs.

ABAWDs must be participating in one or more of these activities for at least 80 hours per month.

ABAWDs cannot receive more than 3 full months of SNAP benefits in a 36-month period while not meeting ABAWD work requirements or an exemption.

See Section 245.03, Criteria for Exemption from ABAWD Work Requirements, for exemption criteria.

References: 7 CFR 273.12(a)(5)(iii)(G)(2); 7 CFR 273.24; 7 USC 2015(o)