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ESA SNAP Policy Manual 113 9.2 Exemptions From Work Requirements ESA will determine which household members are exempt from the work registration requirement at the time of initial certification and recertification and when adding a new individual to the SNAP household. The following individuals are exempt from work registration:  A person younger than 16 or older than 59; if a child has their 16th birthday within a certification period, ESA registers them for work at the next scheduled recertification unless they qualify for another exemption  A person aged 16 or 17 and not the head of household  A person aged 16 or 17 and attending school or enrolled in an employment and training program at least half time  A person physically or mentally unfit for employment  A pregnant woman in her second or third trimester1  An individual receiving unemployment insurance benefits (UIB) or who has a pending UIB application and is meeting UIB work requirements  A person meeting TANF work requirements  A caretaker of a child under age 6  A caretaker of an incapacitated person, even if the incapacitated person lives in another household  A regular participant in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program  A persons who is employed or self-employed and working a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours (this includes migrant and seasonal farmworkers who are under contract or have an agreement with an employer or an employer representative to begin employment within 30 days)  A student enrolled at least half time  A refugee training program participant at least half time

Example Susan is a 17-year-old with a GED who wants to attend Clarkson Computer Learning Center to earn a certificate of competence in software testing. Susan is exempt from the work requirements as long as she is enrolled and attending classes at Clarkson at least half time.

1 ESA is adding this category under authority at 7 CFR § 273.7(b)(1)(ii) to define “physically or mentally unfit for employment” by using the District’s TANF exemption at 29 DCMR § 5809.4(j). Return