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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 3000 3520 Establishing Good Cause

3500 The SNAP Requirement to Work (RTW) Situation RTW Compliance Period Individual turns 18. The month after the 18th birthday. Individual’s dependent turns 14 or all dependent children leave the home. The month after the child turns 14 or leaves the home. Individual no longer disabled. The month after it has been established that the disability has ended. Woman no longer pregnant but there is not a dependent child in the home. The month after the woman becomes able to work. Any period of participation in SNAP while an individual is exempt from the RTW will not count toward the individual’s three (3)-month participation limit. However, once a 36-month compliance period has been established it runs continuously even if the individual later becomes exempt from the RTW and then loses that exemption. EXAMPLE: On May 25, 2026, Sara applies for SNAP. Sara’s three (3)-year compliance period began on January 1, 2025. Her application is approved the same day, and she receives a prorated benefit amount for May. May does not count toward her three (3) months in three (3) years count. In July 2026, she reports that she is pregnant, therefore she meets an exemption. In August 2026, she reports that she miscarried, and she is released to return to work on September 1, 2026. Sara no longer meets an exemption, and she is not meeting the RTW. Sara used 1 month in June 2026. She was exempt for July and August and used two (2) months in September and October. Unless Sara becomes eligible by meeting an exemption or complying with the RTW she is not eligible to participate in SNAP again until January 1, 2028. The following chart provides an explanation of Sara’s RTW Status.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2025 N N N N N N N N N N N N 2026 N N N N P M1 EX EX M2 M3 N 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. 3520 Establishing Good Cause SNAP Manual 07/01/2026 If an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) circumstances change in a way that potentially causes them to lose their eligibility, good cause must be determined. The eligibility worker should consider all facts and circumstances including information provided by both the household and/or the employer when determining good cause. • If the individual would have worked twenty (20) hours/week (or an average of eighty (80) hours per month) but missed work for a good cause, the individual would be considered to have met