General Work Requirement Exemptions

At all determinations of eligibility including initial, ongoing, and recertification, eligibility technicians must explore if the household member meets an exemption rather than placing the burden solely on the household member to self-report. General work requirement exemptions include: A. A person 15 years of age or younger or a person 60 years of age or older; 1. A person age 16 or 17 who is not the head of a household, or who is attending school, or is enrolled in an employment training program, on at least a half-time basis, is also exempt. B. A parent or other household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under 6 or an incapacitated person; C. A person physically or mentally unfit for employment; Examples of being physically or mentally unfit for employment can include but are not limited to: 1. Persons experiencing homelessness, as defined in 4.000.1 2. Recently released from an institution 3. Person with disabilities as defined in 4.100 and includes but is not limited to: a. Persons with self-declared temporary conditions that would prevent successful participation in work activities b. Persons receiving temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by government or private sources c. Persons participating in vocational rehabilitation d. Persons applying for and/or appealing SSI benefits 4. Persons unable to maintain employment 5. Persons impacted by domestic violence D. A student enrolled at least half-time, as defined by the educational facility, in any accredited school, training program, or institution of higher education; 1. A student who is enrolled in an institute of higher education must meet student eligibility requirements to receive SNAP. 2. Students who are eligible for SNAP remain exempt from work requirements during normal periods of class attendance and school breaks. 3. Persons who are not enrolled at least half-time or who experience a break in their enrollment status due to graduation, expulsion, suspension, or who drop out or otherwise do not intend to register for the next normal school term (other than summer), shall not be eligible for this exemption. E. Employed or self-employed individuals who are working a minimum of thirty (30) hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by thirty (30) hours; 1. This shall include migrant and seasonal farm workers who are under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within thirty (30) days. 2. Persons working in action programs, including VISTA, are exempt from work requirements if they work at least thirty (30) hours per week even if the compensation is not consistent with prevailing community wage, since an employer-employee relationship can be documented. F. A person applying for or receiving Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB). The local office shall verify application for or receipt of UIB, if questionable. A person who has been denied UIB and who is appealing the decision is exempt; G. A regular participant in drug or alcohol treatment or rehabilitation program; H. A person subject to and complying with CW or the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) work programs.