OLGT 2024-51: SNAP: Unclear Information Rules During Case Maintenance for Able- Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD)

Following the end of the Public Health Emergency, the Department was required to resume the application of the ABAWD Work Rules and time limits. Since then, the Department has developed a thoughtful, phased plan to come into compliance with these requirements. This includes making system enhancements to comply with new ABAWD Work Rules and issuing procedural guidance to prevent SNAP recipients who are subject to the ABAWD Work Rules from unnecessarily losing nutritional support.

Since the resumption of the ABAWD Work Rules and most recently the significant change in the number of waived areas (i.e., areas of the state with insufficient job opportunities and/or an unemployment rate above 10%), the Department was unable to determine if clients meet another exemption during the case maintenance period. Due to Simplified Reporting and Unclear Information rules, DTA is adding an additional temporary exemption called Unclear Information. This temporary exemption will be automatically applied during the case maintenance period for clients who do not have any other ABAWD exemption on record. If a client has the Unclear Information exemption applied on BEACON, this household must be screened for an ongoing exemption at their next reporting period.

Staff are to continue to screen clients for exemptions at application, recertification and Interim Report and update BEACON accordingly. It is important for staff to utilize Attachment A: ABAWD Work Rules Exemption Screening Questions when screening, and follow guidance from OLGT 2024-36 and OLGT 2024-52.