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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 3000 3512 Countable Months

3500 The SNAP Requirement to Work (RTW) EXAMPLE 2: An individual applies for SNAP on May 18, 2025. Their three (3)-year compliance period began on January 1, 2025, and runs continuously through December 31, 2027 (three years). A new three (3)-year compliance period will begin on January 1, 2028. 3512 Countable Months SNAP Manual 07/01/2026 A countable month is any month in which an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWDs) receives a full month of SNAP benefits. Any months that a household received partial month’s benefits, including prorated and retroactive benefits unless the retroactive months are not prorated, are not included in the three (3)- month requirement. State Agencies must track countable months over the three (3)-year period even if there are breaks in an able-bodied adult’s participation. EXAMPLE: John applies for SNAP on January 2, 2025. He received SNAP benefits for January. Since January was a partial month, it will not be counted as a participating month for RTW purposes. The three (3)-month count for John begins February 2025 and ends April 2025. Beginning May 2025, John is no longer eligible for SNAP benefits since he has received three (3) full months of benefits without meeting an exemption. He will remain ineligible until December 31, 2027, unless he later meets an exemption or can reestablish eligibility by meeting the RTW. The following chart provides an explanation of John’s RTW Status:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2025 P M1 M2 M3 I I I I I I I I 2026 I I I I I I I I I I I I 2027 I I I I I I I I I I I I W = Working at least 20 hours; ET = Participating in qualifying work activity; B1, B2, B3 = Bonus months; M1, M2, M3 = Countable month; N = Not participating in SNAP; I = Ineligible for SNAP because ABAWD does not meet work requirements and has used countable months. P=Partial month of benefits. EX = Exemptions. EXAMPLE: It’s now July 2025 and John reapplies for SNAP benefits. We discover that he has a temporary disability due to a surgery he had earlier this month. His doctor provided a statement that he will be able to return to work on October 1, 2025. Since John now meets an exemption due to a disability, he can receive SNAP benefits for July- August-September-October 2025 (he will become ineligible the month after it has been established that the disability has ended). John will not be eligible for SNAP benefits again until January 2028 because he has already exhausted his three (3) months out of thirty-six (36) months based on the date established back in January 2025. He can only be eligible before January 2028 if he meets another RTW exemption or complies with the RTW.