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NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance- TA and SNAP Employment Policy Manual Section 385.3 - Page 34 Rev. 4/2025 work requirements including the ABAWD work rules. There are no “free” months of SNAP benefits for individuals designated as ABAWDs. Districts without a waiver of the ABAWD requirements must offer and provide a qualifying work activity to all ABAWDs. Additionally, because all ABAWDs are work registrants, all general SNAP work requirements apply to them. SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Q.5 What does it mean exactly when you say that an individual must “work register?” A.5 In the past, a non-exempt applicant for SNAP was required to go to the local DOL office and fill out an application for work. This constituted “registering for work.” This process is no longer required. When the district reviews an individual’s SNAP application now, the district must screen all household members for an exemption from the general SNAP work requirements and determine whether the person is exempt or non-exempt from SNAP work requirements. The person is determined to be a work registrant if the individual does not qualify for any of the exemptions from the general SNAP work requirements. The district then assigns the SNAP employability code for the individual as appropriate. This completes the work registration process. Q.6 Can an individual fail to comply with “work registration?” A.6 An individual cannot fail to work register. The process of determining work registrant status (exempt or non-exempt) is a district responsibility. There is no State requirement to complete and/or sign any work registration form. An individual’s failure or refusal to sign a form delineating rights and responsibilities related to participation in work activities does not constitute failure to comply with work registration or work activities. Districts must inform individuals of the SNAP work requirements they are subject to by issuing the LDSS-5193 Important Information about SNAP Work Rules (General, Mandatory E&T, and ABAWD) or the LDSS-5193A Important Information about SNAP Work Rules (General and Mandatory E&T) to the household and providing an oral explanation of the pertinent work requirements including rights and responsibilities related to each requirement. The written notice and the oral explanation must be provided to each household where at least one household member is subject to a work requirement at application, recertification, and when a previously exempt household member or a new household member becomes subject to work requirements. Districts must screen individuals for an exemption from the SNAP work requirements during the eligibility interview. After an individual is determined to be a work registrant (non-exempt), they may be required to meet the requirements of a work registrant including participation in a work activity assignment or acceptance of a job. Failure to comply without good cause may result in a durational sanction of the individual who failed to comply in accordance with 18 NYCRR 385.12(e). Should an individual, who claims an exemption from the general SNAP work requirements, fail to submit requested documentation to support the claimed exemption, (i.e., a medical