Countable Non-Participation Months

A countable month or non-qualifying month refers to any month an ABAWD receives Basic Food benefits for the full benefit month while:

Receiving benefits in Washington or another state as an ABAWD without an exception from participation requirements.

Not fulfilling ABAWD work requirements.

Not in an area with a waiver of the ABAWD time limits.

Not exempted for the month using one of the state’s federal allotment of discretionary exemptions.

An ABAWD without exceptions must fully meet required hours in qualifying work or work-like activities each month unless there is good cause for non-participation. A client who doesn’t participate for three months will become ineligible for Basic Food.