Determining ABAWD Status

How to determine if an individual is Exempt, Compliant or Noncompliant with ABAWD requirements.

What’s an ABAWD?

Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents:  Individuals

18

through

49

years old, who do not care for a dependent child.   For this policy, a dependent child is under

age 18

AND a household member. Able-Bodied means they are able to work.

Why Does it Matter?

 ABAWDs are only eligible for

3

months of Food Benefits within a

36

month period, if not in compliance with work requirements!

ABAWD Exemptions

 ABAWD Exemptions are listed in Vol. IIA, MS 2105 .

 Review these 5 ABAWD Exemptions, and summarize them in your own words on your Notes Pages...

Non-Exempt ABAWDs...

 Must

Comply

with “ABAWD

Work

Requirements” to receive more than

3

months of Food Benefits in a

36

month period.

The FS-500.1

rules and requirements for ABAWDs...

Explains

FS-500.1 Fact Sheet

  Provide FS-500.1 “ABAWD Fact Sheet” to each Non-Exempt ABAWD.

Annotate the copies given on the PAFS-203 , and have the client sign.

Locate and review this form, so that you could explain it to a client...

ABAWD Work Requirements

 Activities and circumstances that meet

ABAWD Work Requirements

, are listed in Vol. IIA, MS 2100 .

 Go to that Manual Section, and complete the “ABAWD Compliance” section of your Notes Pages...

ABAWD Noncompliance

  ABAWDs who accumulate 3 Noncompliant months within a 36-month period are

ineligible

until they

Comply

or become

Exempt

from ABAWD requirements. Noncompliant months do NOT have to be

consecutive

.

ABAWD System Entries

The next few slides highlight those questions on KAMES which are related to ABAWD Exemptions, Compliance and Tracking.

First Member Screen

  These fields (used for WR) are also to Exempt ABAWDs who are caring for children under 18.

Answer “Y” to “FS”, and enter the youngest child’s DOB for

each

adult HH member.

Pregnant or Working?

Here are 2 ABAWD questions: – Both of these must be verified. – Convert work hours to monthly when answering.

WEP or VES?

   If an ABAWD is not currently in compliance with work requirements, but does intend to comply with ETP, answer “Y” to WEP or VES, and indicate “W” as the type.

This question is only answered “Y” in active ETP counties.

WEP is a placement for the 30-day job search.

Refusal to Comply

  If the ABAWD is not currently meeting work requirements, and states they will NOT comply with ETP, answer “N” to that “WEP or VES” question.

KAMES will then assign Noncompliant months for this individual.

ABAWD Note: Discourage folks from saying “No” to ETP at this point. Make every attempt to get individuals to comply with ETP!

Disposition Screen

   On the member eligibility screen, there will be an ABAWD Tracking Code.

“PM” is for the Prorated Month benefits.

“PM” months are considered Compliant months.

Noncompliant Months

 The Tracking Code for Noncompliant months is “ BA ”.

 After 3 “BA” months, the individual is ineligible for FB during the rest of that 36-month period, unless they become exempt or compliant.

Some Other Tracking Codes

      

WV

: Waiver county, exempt from ABAWD

DC

: Cares for a dependent child under 18

ER

: Exempt from work registration

HR

: Works 80 hours or more per month

PG

: Pregnant

WP

: Participating in WEP

BN

: Bonus month

That’s the Facts!

Please return to Blackboard, and complete the “ABAWD Review Activity” to check your understanding of ABAWD policy and procedures.