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Title 7: SNAP Page 45 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter I: Specific Households and Participants Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents… Revised February 13, 2026 Regaining Eligibility Additional Three-Months’ Eligibility A one-time additional three months of SNAP eligibility may be allowed to some ABAWDs. The additional three months of eligibility are a consecutive period allowed only once during each three-year period. See Time Limit for ABAWDs for information about periods in which ABAWDs are limited to three months of benefits. An ABAWD qualifies to receive additional months only when the ABAWD:  Has first used all of the “three-month time limit,” and then  Has had a break in receipt of SNAP benefits, and then  Regains eligibility, and then  Stops meeting the ABAWD work requirement. ABAWDs do not have to apply for SNAP benefits right away after they stop one of the activities listed under ABAWD Work Requirement. The additional three months are the three months following the month in which an ABAWD reapplies for SNAP benefits. A month of prorated benefits does not count as one of the three months. Once started, the additional three-month period continues uninterrupted for any reason, including whether or not the ABAWD actually receives SNAP benefits during the time. Ceasing to Meet the Work Requirement For purposes of qualifying for the additional three months of benefits, consider an ABAWD to have stopped meeting the ABAWD work requirement when:  The person’s participation in a qualifying work program ends for any reason.  The person is laid off, quits, or is fired from the job.  The person permanently reduces hours of work to less than 80 hours monthly.  The person’s employer reduces the person’s hours of work to less than 80 hours monthly. Note: Good cause provisions do not apply.