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Title 7: SNAP Page 34 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter I: Specific Households and Participants Households with Alien Members Revised February 13, 2026 Sponsored Aliens NOTE: A SAVE response that shows no service record on a person or shows an immigration status making the person ineligible for a benefit is not a finding of fact or conclusion of law that the person is not lawfully present. Situations in which the criteria are met for reporting an undocumented alien are extremely rare. For this reason, contact Policy Support if you believe it may be appropriate to report an undocumented alien. Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) Legal reference: 8 U.S.C. §2015(o)(3); 7 CFR 273.24(a) and (b), (d) through (i), 271.2 “ABAWDs” means “able-bodied adults without dependents.” “Able-bodied” means a person is both physically and mentally fit for employment. “Dependent” means a child under age 18 who is or could be part of the person’s SNAP household. The child does not have to be related to the person. “Physically or mentally fit for employment” means the person does not have physical or mental barriers that prevent the person from obtaining or keeping employment. To get SNAP benefits, an ABAWD must meet one of the requirements under ABAWD Work Requirement. The ABAWD work requirements are in addition to the regular requirements set under 7-C, Work Requirements for MWRs. An ABAWD can get only three months of SNAP benefits while not meeting the ABAWD work requirement. (See Time Limit for ABAWDs.) After using the three months, some ABAWDs can get an additional three months if they meet the conditions under Additional Three-Months’ Eligibility. ABAWD Exemptions Legal Reference: 8 U.S.C. §2015(o)(3) A person is exempt from the ABAWD work requirements if the person is:  Exempt from mandatory work registration (MWR) for any reason except being 60 or older. See 7-C, Exemptions from Work Registration for a list of exemptions.  Under age 18. This includes the month in which a person turns 18.  Aged 65 or over. This includes the month in which a person turns 65.  Pregnant. This applies to any trimester.  Unfit either mentally or physically for employment (has a condition that makes the person unemployable or that prevents the person from keeping a job).