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

260.03 DETERMINING COUNTABLE MONTHS North Carolina uses a fixed clock to measure the 36-month period. The current fixed clock is a 3-year period which is January 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2027. The 36-month period runs continuously without a break, regardless of whether the individual receives FNS benefits. A. 3-month participation time limit. Individuals subject to the ABAWD work requirements are generally limited to receiving 3 countable months of FNS benefits during the 36-month fixed period. B. A countable month is a month during which an individual receives FNS benefits for the full benefit month while not fulfilling the ABAWD work requirements, without good cause, and without otherwise being exempt from the work requirements under FNS Manual § 260.01. a. The 3-month limit is cumulative. b. Countable months can be assigned non-consecutively during the fixed 36-month period if the individual subject to ABAWD rules does not fulfill the work requirements without good cause in that month. C. Countable months must not be assigned to an individual until they have been screened for all general work registration exemptions and ABAWD work requirement exemptions at initial application or recertification, and it is determined that no exemption applies. D. ABAWDs are required to report when they experience a reduction in work hours below 20 hours per week or 80 hours a month by the 10th of the month following the month the work hours were reduced. If a non-exempt ABAWD exceeds 3 countable months, explore referral for overpayment if the household failed to report or failed to timely report a reportable change. Do not explore overpayments for non-countable months or months that the individual is exempt from ABAWD requirements.

An over issuance is not created under the following situations: 1. If a change is reported timely or discovered within the household’s reporting timeframe that requires a Notice of Adverse Action and there is not sufficient time to decrease or terminate benefits prior to the next month. 2. If a non-reportable change is reported or discovered. a. The loss of an exemption during a certification period is a non-