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

the Department may not set verification standards that target certain participants as a group in a discriminatory manner for more intensive verification, such as requiring all time-limited participants to verify exception status or by considering all self- attestation of an exception status to be questionable. b. Note: Receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits still require verification other than self-attestation. 2. If self-attestation is questionable, attempt to verify using all available information before requiring an individual to provide verification of their exemption status. a. If an individual attests that they, or another household member, meet an exemption, and the statement is questionable, eligibility workers are required to attempt to verify using all available information before requiring individuals to provide verification of their exemption status. This requirement is specific to verification of exemptions from the ABAWD rules only. 3. Individuals must be given at least 10 days to return additional verification of an ABAWD exemption, but only if the self-attestation was questionable or unfitness for work is not obvious. a. If self-attestation regarding meeting an exemption is questionable, and the eligibility worker could not verify exemption status using information available through NCFAST or other sources, existing standards for timely verification apply and the eligibility worker must give the household at least 10 days to return additional verification. A DSS-8650 Notice of Information Needed may be used for this purpose. 4. After an individual is screened for all exemptions, do not deny or delay an application or recertification due to exemption verification, if the individual is: a. Not otherwise exempt based on self-attestation, because the statement is questionable because of information known to the agency or prior conflicting statements that cannot be reasonably resolved; and, b. Not otherwise exempt using information available to the agency, such as information from other public assistance programs through data sharing; and, c. Not otherwise exempt due to obvious mental or physical unfitness as determined by the State agency; and,