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12 Section 260 Change #02-2025 December 1, 2025 FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES CERTIFICATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FNS 260 ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS (ABAWD)

ability to work. iv. Chronic medical conditions: Individual reports cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or other serious chronic conditions and describes ongoing treatment (dialysis, chemotherapy) or symptoms that limit ability to maintain a regular work schedule. v. Serious mental illness: Individual reports diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or other serious mental illness with severe symptoms (hallucinations, severe anxiety, panic attacks) that would interfere with employment. vi. Cognitive or developmental disabilities: Individual has intellectual or developmental disability, traumatic brain injury, or dementia and demonstrates difficulty understanding interview questions or completing application. vii. Combined medical-vocational factors with severe impairment: Individuals aged 55-64 with a limited education (less than a high school degree or equivalent), no substantial gainful work activity in the past five years, and any health condition limiting work capacity would be considered disabled under Social Security’s adverse medical-profiles and would be obviously unfit for work. viii. Recent hospitalization or medical crisis: Individual was recently hospitalized or is recovering from surgery, stroke, heart attack, or other acute medical event. b. Substance Use Disorders and obvious unfitness. Individuals with an active substance use disorder that functionally impairs their ability to work are determined to be an individual obviously physically or mentally unfit for employment for purposes of the ABAWD exemption based on eligibility worker’s discretion. i. Involvement in an alcohol or drug treatment program is not required for an ABAWD work exemption. c. Chronic homelessness and obvious unfitness. A person experiencing chronic homelessness is an individual who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence, including locations such as a homeless or domestic violence shelter;