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MAURA T. HEALEY KIAME MAHANIAH, MD, MBA GOVERNOR SECRETARY

KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL

JEFF McCUE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

COMMISSIONER

Online Guide Transmittal 2025-31

July 25, 2025

To: Department of Transitional Assistance Staff

From: Sarah Stuart, Associate Commissioner for Local Implementation and Special Populations

Re: SNAP: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD): Update Regarding the Implementation of the New Geographic Waiver

Overview

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) allows states the option to request a geographic waiver, also known as the ABAWD time limit waiver. If approved by FNS, individuals residing in areas of the state with unemployment rates of over 10 percent or lack a sufficient number of employment opportunities for residents, will not be subject to the ABAWD time limit.

DTA’s last geographic waiver expired June 30, 2025. DTA has not yet received a decision from FNS on this year’s waiver request, and as a result, the Department cannot continue applying the “Resident of a Waived Area” reason to non-exempt individuals subject to the ABAWD work rules.

DTA removed the “Resident of a Waived Area” reason overnight on Monday, June 30, 2025, to remain in compliance with the ABAWD work rules. Households who did not have another exemption known to BEACON are now subject to the ABAWD work rules and time limits have been sent the Consolidated Notice.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Department of Transitional Assistance

OLGT 2025-31

Page 2

BEACON Fixes to Remove Current Geographic Waiver

The following updates have been made to BEACON to implement the expiration of the ABAWD geographic waiver:

BEACON ended the current ABAWD geographic waiver effective midnight on June 30, 2025.

For cases that are currently active at case maintenance:

1. The “…Resident of a Waived Area?” ABAWD screening question has been automatically set to No for all DTA clients who previously resided in a waived area.

2. If the client did not have an exemption on file when “Resident of a Waived Area” was removed, BEACON was updated to indicate that they are now ABAWD Work Rules required with an effective date of July 1, 2025. This will be the start date displayed on the SNAP Work Rules Screening page.

3. To allow clients sufficient time to come into compliance with the ABAWD Work Rules, a BEACON batch applied Good Cause to all clients who become subject to the ABAWD Work Rules effective July 1, 2025, due to the termination of the geographic waiver and who would have otherwise received a strike for July 2025.

4. The Consolidated Notice along with an informational insert and Multi- Lingual Card were mailed July 22, 2025, to all impacted clients who lost the “Resident of a Waived Area” reason and have no recorded exemption.

The Consolidated Notice advises the client that they are subject to the ABAWD Work Rules effective August 1, 2025, unless they report an exemption to DTA. The insert explains these changes were the result of recent federal action and that Massachusetts is no longer allowed to waive the ABAWD work rules time limit because of where they live.

5. A batch narrative was entered to explain the discrepancy of the ABAWD start date displayed on the SNAP Work Rules Screening page (7/1/2025) versus the start date displayed on Consolidated Notice (8/1/2025) for staff. The batch narrative reads:

“Geographic waiver ended 6/30/2025. One or more household member(s) now subject to ABAWD Work Rules effective July 2025. Household members have received notification that they must begin meeting the ABAWD Work Rules beginning August 1, 2025. Due to late notification, Good Cause will be applied for July 2025.”