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Page | 255 13242 INITIAL 3 MONTH BENEFIT PERIOD (ABAWD)

The first 3 months in a 36-month period in which the individual is not exempt, not meeting the work requirements, not receiving prorated, suspended, or zero benefits, or not sanctioned/disqualified is the initial 3-month period. The 3 months does not have to be consecutive, and all 3 months must be used in the 36-month period before the individual can be denied eligibility under this provision.

The individual must receive SNAP benefits for the month to count for each initial 3-month benefit period. An individual may receive an initial 3-month benefit period in every 36-month time period.

13243 EXTENDED 3 MONTH BENEFIT PERIOD (ABAWD)

Once an individual has received their initial 3 months benefits, extended benefits may be granted for a 3-month period if the individual worked 80 hours a month in a 30-day period at a place of employment or met their required workfare hours in a 30-day period. The 3-month extension cannot be granted in that month if the individual will be sanctioned and not receive any benefits. Sanctions could be imposed for voluntary quit. If it is determined the individual cannot be sanctioned due to time frames or terminating a workfare job, the 3 month extended benefits should be granted if the individual worked at least 80 hours in a 30-day period. If the individual receives prorated benefits the first month, the month is not counted in the 3-month extension.

A. The extended 3 months will only be approved after an individual has been denied eligibility or would have been denied eligibility if they didn’t meet one of the work requirements. The 3-month extension may be approved once in a 36-month period after an individual has met and lost one of the work requirements and is eligible for benefits.

B. A 30-day period means any 30 consecutive days. It does not have to be a calendar month it may be a combination of 2 months. The employment rule of at least 80 hours in a 30- day period means the individual must have worked 80 hours in any 30 consecutive day period before eligibility may be reestablished.

C. The 3 months for the extension run consecutively. Once the 3-month extension is granted, the individual is considered to have received the extension and is not eligible for another extension until the 36-month time period starts over. Even if the individual is disqualified for any reason, suspended, or approved for zero benefits, the 3-month extension counts, and the individual is not eligible again until the ABAWD exemptions are met, or the 36- month count starts over.

Example 1: Jane received her initial 3 months of benefits in April, May, and June. She found employment of 20 hours a week June 15 and verified 80 hours. Jane is exempt from ABAWD time limits for July because of her employment. Jane was laid off August 15th. When Jane reapplies, she is eligible for the 3-month extension because she worked 80 hours in a 30-day period since she received her initial 3 months.