FS Work Requirements/Voluntary Quit/ABAWD

An Advocate's Guide to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Massachusetts By Patricia Baker and Victoria Negus, January 2024 Edition (Updated May 2024) An indispensable handbook for all who need to know about the SNAP program in Massachusetts. The SNAP…

In 2019, USDA filed 3 sets of proposed rule changes that would result in significant cuts to SNAP if enacted. The first of the 3 rules, expanding the time limit for certain childless non-disabled adults subject to strict work rules, was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2020 but was vacated…

Discussing ABAWD waived areas

Updates on ABAWD

This Transmittal advises staff of a number of clarifications to the ABAWD Work Program Requirement, including several BEACON and forms changes. To convey these clarifications, a number of pages have been updated in the ABAWD chapter of the Online Guide.

ABAWD information.

DTA update to Online Guide (OLG) in three key areaa impacting ABAWDS (able-bodied without dependents):  First, OLG now includes informatoin explaining the "community service" (volunteer) work requirement for non-exempt ABAWD subject to the 3 month time limit…

PowerPoint overview of: Simplified Reporting, a recertification type that allows for varying certification periods and reduced reporting requirements for SNAP households. The ABAWD (able bodied adults without dependents) Work Program. Massachusetts has operated under a statewide…

Guidance from DTA on the reinstatement of the 3 month SNAP time limit for individuals age 18 through 49 who are considered "able-bodied wihtout dependents" or ABAWDs. Guidance details the allowable exemptions aren the requirements imposed on ABAWDs who are not exempt to keep their…

Due to high unemployment rates and a depressed labor market,Massachusetts has qualified for and operated under a waiver of the ABAWD time-limited benefit requirement since June of 2008. This waiver will expire on December 31, 2015.  Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs)…

Prior to the BEACON Release 47.6 deployment on 8/31/2015, transportation reimbursement payments for employed clients could only be requested and paid on the Related Benefit page. With the deployment, transportation payments for employed clients are requested and approved on the Transportation…

Overview This Online Guide Transmittal changes two pages in the SNAP Work Requirements section to update information about exemptions to program participation requirements for unfit for work observed.  The updates are as follows: the reference to exemption due to unfit for work observed…

SNAP Employment and Training Exemption for 16 and 17 Year-olds When a 16 or 17 year old is not the head of household in a SNAP case, he or she is not subject to the SNAP E&T requirements. However, if a teen is working, verification of student status is required to determine if the earnings are…

FYIs Over verification Over verification occurs when clients are unnecessarily required to provide a permanent verification a second time, or when clients are asked to provide proof of one eligibility factor, when other verifications may have already proven the eligibility factor. Over…

DTA Overview On March 3, 2014, the Department modified BEACON to allow for the enrollment of all clients who are mandatory participants or voluntary participants in the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. This mandatory program applies to all nonexempt household members between the ages…

Activities Meeting the Work Program Requirement Case managers are reminded that the following activities (either alone or in combination with other activities) can be used to meet the client’s TAFDC work program requirement: Working in a job for pay; Employment Ready (including…

Field Operations Memo 2007-38 described increases in the federal minimum wage that began in July 2007 and have continued through July 2009. On July 24, 2008 the federal minimum wage increased to $6.55. On July 24, 2009 the federal minimum wage increased to $7.25. Purpose The purpose of this memo is…

Flyer explaining that Food Stamp work and time limit rules do not apply to many MA residents now. In June of 2008, DTA issued guidance revising its policy around the food stamp program (FS) time limits and work requirements for non-disabled adults without children. DTA announced that USDA had…

Food Stamp work-required individuals can cure sanctions by working 80 hours in a 30 day period or complying with community service requirements. Sanctions can be cured at any time. If they work and then lose their job through no fault of their own, they get a second 3 months of Food Stamps without…

FNS waiver of ABAWD work rules for certain towns and region. See charts re: which towns and region have FS work rules waived for 2008.

Explains which work study income is noncountable and which is countable, and that even work study with noncountable income meets work requirements.

Food Stamps for college students:  household determination when student age 23 or over and is living with parent; Food Stamp eligibility for student at college with meal plan for some meals;  students as paremts of two parent families and Food Stamp work requirement.

Employment and training state plan for Food Stamp able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).

Information about this guide, which details the components of TAFDC ESP and Food Stamp Employment and Training programs.

ESP vendors need to know the number of hours a recipient is required to participate in an activity to meet the TAFDC Work Program requirement. The ESP Referral and Response form (ESP-16) is used to refer recipients to an ESP component. Field Operations Memo 2004-42 instructed TAO Staff to annotate…

Food Stamp/SNAP Work Requirement Medical Report Form:  This medical report form can be completed by a wide range of licensed medical, mental health, substance abuse providers to verify that the SNAP applicant or recipient is exempt from the work registration, job search and work…

 FS: How to count escrowed tax payments for homeowners' shelter deduction; FS: Methods of determining whether a job meets the work requirement; FS: Coding of undocumented immigrants. 

Leased vehicles not countable; treatment of tax refunds and EIC; TAFDC: how many pay stubs to use to calculate financial eligibility for extension for recipient who has just started working; FS: when to start counting ineligibility period for voluntary quit prior to application; FS: 60 days of job…

FS: Voluntary quit provision does not apply to applicants exempt from work requirement; undiverted FS must have issuance date not on Sunday or holiday; TAFDC: if no community service site available, excused from work requirement; TAFDC: teen parent living arrangement requirements satisfied when teen…