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Page | 247 in a 36-month period. Once the extension has been granted, it will continue even if the individual otherwise becomes ineligible to participate.

If the household receives prorated benefits in the initial month of eligibility, that month does not count in the initial or extended 3-month period. If the household received suspended benefits, or zero benefits, the month does not count in the initial or extended 3-month period.

The 3-month time limit is specific to each individual. If an individual has received three months of benefits, and does not meet the exemption criteria for ABAWD, the individual is considered an excluded household member. If the excluded individual has received his or her time limits and is not meeting any exemptions, the individual is not eligible for benefits; however, the remaining household members may still be eligible. The ineligible ABAWD’s resources are counted in their entirety. Income and allowable expenses attributable to the ABAWD are prorated with all household members.

All ABAWDs must have an oral explanation of the DSS-EA-345e given to them at initial application and each renewal. In addition, the applicant must receive a copy and a copy of the completed 345e must be scanned to section 3 of the case record.

13220 NON-WORK EXEMPTIONS - ABAWD

Exemption criteria are determined prospectively. The countable months are determined on a prospective basis in the same manner that prospective eligibility is determined. ACCESS automatically tracks the number of months an individual has received time limited benefits. The ABAWD history is located on an ABWD panel, which can be accessed from the MEMB panel or the PERS panel by entering ABWD in the command.

Prior to application approval, ABAWD time limit history should be reviewed for individuals meeting the ABAWD criteria to ensure the history is correct. If it is not correct, contact the Help Desk for assistance.

ACCESS ABAWD Exemption codes are:  A – Refugee Job Link Program  C – Workfare (community service)  E – One of the 3 extension months  G – Other Secondary Education Program (GED)  I – Native American living in any county in South Dakota  J – Employment hours over 79  P – Pregnant  S - Suspended month  W – Work registration  X – Prorated benefit month  Y – Countable If the ABWD panel is blank, the individual is not considered an ABAWD because he/she is not age 18 or is age 65 or older; the individual is receiving SNAP benefits with children under age 14; or the individual is coded permanently disabled (DISA panel with a “D”).