IM-71 August 31, 2023; IM-53 August 9, 2018; IM-25 March 23, 2017; IM-06 January 20, 2016; IM-100 November 19, 2015; IM-94 October 19, 2015; IM-32 June 16, 2014; IM-100 October 20, 2006; IM-133 December 21, 2004; IM-194 October 24, 2001; IM-32 April 1, 1999
The following individuals are exempt from the Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) training/work requirement:
- A participant who is pregnant in any trimester
- Any participant residing in a household with a child under the age of 18, even if the household member under 18 is not eligible for SNAP
- Any participants, between the ages of 18 through 50, who are exempt from work registration
- As of 10/01/2023, 18-52 years old are the ABAWD age limits
- As of 10/01/2024, 18-54 years old are the ABAWD age limits
- See 1105.025.05.05 Household Members Exempt From Work Registration
- A participant unable to work due to an illness, injury or disability
- Note: Participants need not be disabled or meet the Social Security Disability standard to be determined unfit for work.
- Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, including Reserves/Guard, regardless of their conditions of discharge or release.
- A participant 24 years of age or younger that aged out of the foster care system of any state, district, territory, or tribal organization at age 18 or older
- A participant who is homeless, lacking a fixed night-time residence
- Refer to 1105.035.30 Evaluating Months for ABAWD Training/Work Requirement for the definition of homeless.
Verification
Unless specified below, the applicant/participant’s statement of meeting an exemption does not require verification unless the statement is questionable (see 1102.015.50 Questionable Information).
Veteran and Aged Out of Foster Care:
- Any document, record, system match, or written/verbal statement from a third party that confirms the participant’s statement is acceptable verification.
Unable to Work Due to Illness, Injury, or Disability:
Obtain a medical professional’s statement to verify the exemption of a participant, claiming to be physically or mentally unfit for employment, who is not disabled per the SNAP definition (see 1100.010.00 Definitions), unless the disability is “obvious” to staff.
Note: Staff may use worker discretion when determining an obvious disability. Disabilities do not have to be seen to be obvious.
Participants determined not disabled for MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled, may still be considered unable to work for the ABAWD work/training requirement. If the participant’s medical professional indicates they are unable to work, use the medical professional’s statement as verification of the participant’s inability to work and exempt the participant for the months that the medical professional has stated they are unable to work.
If the participant is unable to furnish a medical professional’s statement, staff should use the MRT Processing Center to obtain a determination of the individual’s mental or physical inability to work. The MRT Processing Center will make the medical professional’s appointment for the ABAWD determination.
Email the MRT Processing Center at MRT.ProcessingCenter@dss.mo.gov. Include the following in each email to MRT:
- Type ABAWD in the subject
- Briefly state the chief medical complaint in the body of the email
- Mark the email as high importance
Note: To mark an email High Importance, while in the email message go to the Message tab and select the High Importance icon.