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Title 7: SNAP Page 42 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter I: Specific Households and Participants Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents… Revised February 13, 2026 Tracking Accept the word of a self-employed person as verification of how many hours are worked per month. Document the client’s statement as to how many hours are worked per month in the case record. Accept the statement of a person who provides an in-kind benefit in exchange for an ABAWD’s services as verification. Once you have verified the hours of work, it is not necessary to do so each month. Assume that an ABAWD is continuing to work 80 or more hours monthly unless the ABAWD reports that the hours of work have dropped below 80 or you have other information indicating the hours are less than 80. Time Limit for ABAWDs ABAWDs can get only three months of SNAP benefits while they are not meeting the work requirement. EXCEPTION: Some ABAWDs can receive an additional three months of eligibility while not fulfilling the work requirement. See Additional Three-Months’ Eligibility for information. All ABAWDs are eligible for the three-month limit during each three-year period, even if they used benefits under a previous period. This period is the same for all ABAWDs in Iowa. The periods are:  December 1, 2023, through November 30, 2026 Due to the federal government shutdown, November 2025 is not a countable ABAWD month  December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2029 The three-month limit can be used either consecutively or nonconsecutively. A prorated month does not count towards an ABAWD’s three-month limit. For the purpose of determining countable ABAWD months, benefits are not considered prorated if a household applies on the first of the month and receives a full month’s benefit.

1. Aleah, an ABAWD, applies for SNAP on April 3 and has not used ABAWD months. Assuming she does not start meeting ABAWD requirements or become exempt, Aleah’s three ABAWD months will be May, June, and July. April does not count because benefits are prorated from the third of the month. 2. Belinda, an ABAWD, applies for SNAP on May 1 and has not used ABAWD months. Assuming she does not start meeting ABAWD requirements or become exempt, Belinda’s three ABAWD months will be May, June, and July. May is countable because, with an effective date of May 1, she will receive a full month’s benefit.