IM-71 August 31, 2023; IM-65 March 28, 2019; IM-118 September 11, 2017; IM-51 August 31, 2016; IM-94 October 19, 2015; IM-32 June 16, 2014; IM-08 January 14, 2008; IM-133 December 21, 2004; IM-194 October 24, 2001; IM-32 April 1, 1999
A non-work month is any month for which an ABAWD receives a full month’s SNAP benefit, in any state, while not meeting the ABAWD work requirement. After receiving 3 non-work months, a month in which benefits are prorated is also considered a non-work month.
A participant may only receive SNAP benefits in 3 non-work months in a 36-month fixed period. If 3 non-work months of benefits have been received, ABAWDs must be denied until eligibility is regained even if the next month of SNAP benefits is prorated.
All non-work months, including those months used in another state, are entered and tracked in the eligibility system. Non-work months are not required to be updated if the participant meets an exclusion or an ABAWD only exception.
If the hours worked or participated in a qualifying training program are different from the projected hours used to determine non-work months, add or delete non-work months based on the verified hours.