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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 3

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 19 Chapter 3 Eligibility Determination Groups

• Is a regular participant in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program; • Is a student enrolled at least half-time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education. Students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education must still meet the student eligibility requirements found above to be eligible for SNAP; • Is hired for work at least 30 hours per week; • Is hired for work paying the equivalent of at least 30 hours times the federal minimum wage per week; or • Is the recipient of a discretionary exemption through the Division of Family Assistance (DFA). For any month in which a discretionary exemption has been granted, a case comment will be entered into the eligibility system. These exemptions qualify the individual to participate immediately, if otherwise eligible. These exemptions are only applicable to the ABAWD time limit and ABAWD work requirement and do not automatically exempt the individual from the SNAP work requirements in Chapter 14. While the individual is exempt, he is not required to regain eligibility by completing any work hours. See below for regaining eligibility.

3.2.1.D.5 Determining the 36-Month Period For all individuals, regardless of client’s status or the county or state of residence, the first 36-month period began January 2016. The 36-month period remains fixed. Receiving SNAP months without being exempt or meeting the work requirement in another state counts towards the client’s three-month limit in West Virginia. The worker must only count such months within the current 36-month period. 3.2.1.D.6 Determining the Three-Month Limit Months in which the client received prorated benefits do not count toward the three-month limit. When an ABAWD, is no longer meeting an exemption or the work requirement, the first countable month is the first full month after the ABAWD is screened for exemptions.