ABAWD WORK REQUIREMENTS

ABAWDs must fulfill an ABAWD work requirement in addition to the general work requirements. For the remainder of this section, client statement is considered acceptable verification unless questionable. If verification is requested from the client, case documentation must thoroughly explain why the original client statement was considered questionable. A. The following individuals are not considered ABAWDs and are therefore not subject to the ABAWD work requirement: 1. Aged seventeen (17) or younger. 2. Aged fifty-five (55) or older. 3. Determined to be medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment. An individual is medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment if they: A. Are receiving temporary or permanent disability benefits issued by governmental or private sources; B. Are obviously mentally or physically unfit for employment as determined by the local office; or C. Provide a statement from a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, designated representative of the physician’s office, a licensed or certified psychologist, a social worker, or any other qualified health professional as defined in 12-200-101 through 12-315-126, C.R.S., that the client is physically or mentally unfit for employment. 4. Residing in the same physical household with an individual who is under the age of eighteen (18). The minor individual does not have to be included in the same SNAP household for this exclusion to apply. B. To fulfill the ABAWD work requirement, the ABAWD must be: 1. Working 20 hours per week or averaged monthly for a total of 80 hours a month; or a. Working includes: i. Work completed in exchange for money (compensated work); or ii. Work completed in exchange for goods or services (in-kind work); or iii. Unpaid work verified by the provider of the unpaid work; or iv. Any combination of compensated work, unpaid work, or in-kind work. 2. Participating in and complying with the requirements of a work program 20 hours per week or averaged monthly for a total of 80 hours a month; or a. A work program includes: i. A program of employment and training operated or supervised by the CDHS program other than a job search program or a job search training program; ii. A program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA); iii. A program under Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 USC 2296, “Trade Adjustment Assistance”). 3. In any combination of working and participating in a work program for a total of 20 hours per week or averaged monthly for a total of 80 hours a month; or 4. Participating in and complying with the Colorado Workfare program. Failure to meet the ABAWD work requirement will result in the ABAWD losing eligibility if they accrue three countable months within a thirty-six (36) calendar month period.