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If an individual is exempt, and the reason they are exempt from ABAWD changes, and it is not a reportable change, the individual remains exempt until the next 6 month report or renewal, whichever is first.

If an individual loses their ABAWD exemption status, Benefits Specialist must review the case for any other exemptions prior to counting any ABAWD month.

ACCESS is programmed to track ABAWD time limits; however, ACCESS can only track the individual’s time limits if the information is encoded correctly. Specialists must also screen for time limited eligibility to ensure ACCESS ABAWD history is correct. If the ACCESS ABAWD history panel is incorrect, the ACCESS help desk must be contacted to correct the information

If a household reports a customer having a change during a previously counted ABAWD month with proof of at least 80 hours in that month the Specialist would adjust the person’s countable months retrospectively to correct the ABAWD history. ACCESS help desk must be contacted to correct the information.

13241 36 MONTH PERIOD (ABAWD)

The 36-month period is established on a “fixed clock” and is used for all individuals. Each 36- month period is identified and will be unchanged regardless of when an individual applies or receives benefits. Non-exempt individuals may only receive 3 months of initial benefits for non- exempt months and one 3-month extension in each 36-month period. Eligible individuals may receive unlimited benefits if they meet exemption criteria.

Each ABAWD period begins in December and goes for 36 months. After each 36-month period, individuals start with a “clean clock”.

Example: Sally is exempt as an ABAWD because she is pregnant. The pregnancy terminated prior to the birth of the baby. Sally is not required to report the pregnancy terminated until her 6 month report or renewal is due, whichever is first. Example: Jane applied for benefits 02-01-21. She is non-exempt and received benefits for February, March, and April. If she remains non-exempt for the remainder of May 2021 through November 2023, she will not qualify for benefits until December 2023 when the new 36-month period starts. [Jane may receive benefits if she applies after she becomes exempt or becomes eligible for a 3-month extension period.] Example: Marilyn was coded as exempt as an ABAWD at application because she was working part time at least 80 hours/month. Marilyn now reports in an interim month; she has lost her job. The Benefits Specialist must review with Marilyn any other criteria that may continue to make her exempt from ABAWD months counting. The Benefits Specialists discovers while talking to Marilyn that she previously did not report that she was Native American. The Race code on her member panel is updated, and she will continue to be exempt from countable ABAWD months.