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

d. Not otherwise exempt because they have not provided requested verifications after receiving a Notice of Information Needed, and they have not requested additional assistance with obtaining such verifications. 5. An application or recertification should never be denied or delayed for failure to respond to a request for verification of an exemption if the participant is otherwise eligible for FNS. Verification of ABAWD exemption status is not a mandatory verification. a. If an individual has been screened for all exemptions at initial application and recertification, and the individual is not otherwise exempt from ABAWD time limits, then countable months can be assigned to the participant if they do not fulfill work requirements without good cause or become otherwise exempt. B. ABAWD Exemption: Age 1. The ABAWD work requirement does not apply during any month when the individual is under age 18 or age 65 or older. a. Individuals aged 60 or older remain exempt from the general work registration requirements, including mandatory participation in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T), but may now be subject to ABAWD time limits, unless otherwise exempt under an another exemption. b. H.R. 1 did not change the definition of "elderly" for FNS purposes. Individuals age 60 or older remain classified as elderly under FNS Manual § 212.02. Continue to apply all elderly- specific policies to individuals in this age group, including the excess medical expense deduction (FNS Manual § 340.13) and excess shelter deductions (FNS Manual § 340.12). C. ABAWD Exemption: FNS households with a member who is under age 14 1. An individual is exempt from the ABAWD time limit if they reside in a FNS household with responsibility for a child under age 14. 2. The individual is not required to be the parent of the child. 3. The individual is not required to be responsible for the child. 4. The child can be an ineligible member of the FNS household for any reason (such as, but not limited to, being an ineligible alien). 5. The child can be temporarily absent from the home (no longer than 30 days).