245.07 Determining the 36 Month and 3 Month Periods of Eligibility SR 01-17, 06/01 (FSM-A)

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36-Month Period

The 36-month period is a fixed period of time beginning with the first month of eligibility or December 1996, whichever is later.

• The 36-month "count" continues whether or not the individual receives food stamps.

• A new 36-month period begins the month after the previous 36-month period ends.

Example: An ABAWD individual first receives food stamps May 1997. The 36-month period ends April 30, 2000. The next 36-month period begins May 2000.

3-Month Period

The 3-month period is the number of months a non-exempt ABAWD individual may receive Food Stamp benefits while not fulfilling ABAWD work requirements.

• Review a non-exempt ABAWD individual’s in-state and out-of-state benefit, work, and training history for the current 36-month period to determine if the individual received benefits for 3 or more months during which they were non-exempt and not fulfilling ABAWD work participation requirements.

• The 3 months need not be consecutive, but must be full calendar months. Do not count partial months of receipt when determining the 3-month limit. A countable month is one in which an ABAWD receives a full month’s benefit while non-exempt and not participating.

• The 3-month period of food stamp receipt begins on the date the non-exempt ABAWD reports he or she is no longer satisfying ABAWD work requirements. Because the 10-day reporting requirement still applies, the begin-date for the 3-month period must never be later than 10 days after the ABAWD individual fails to meet the work requirements.

• Non-exempt individuals who have received food stamps while not satisfying ABAWD work participation requirements must be closed effective the end date of the 3rd month of receipt.

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