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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents and Mandatory Work Participants FAQ

On June 3, 2023, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) was signed into federal law, which brings significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements. One key change involves Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). The age range for an ABAWD has been expanded from age 49 to now include adults through age 52.

Additionally, the FRA introduced new exemption categories for ABAWDs, including: 

Homeless Individuals: Those experiencing homelessness are now exempt. 
Veterans: All veterans, regardless of discharge conditions, are exempt, including reserve component service. 
Former Foster Youth: Individuals aged 24 or younger who were in foster care on their 18th birthday or later are now exempt. 

In addition to the ABAWD age expansion mandated by the FRA, Florida has expanded the age of individuals subject to mandatory work requirements. Individuals aged 53 through 59, who do not meet an exemption, will now be required to participate in the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program. These individuals will be referred to as mandatory work participants.

    What is the SNAP E&T program?

    The SNAP E&T Program helps individuals, who receive food assistance, register and participate in a work activity. Through SNAP E&T, participants have access to program components such as supervised job search, job search training, education, vocational training, and job retention services to help them enter or move up in the workforce. SNAP E&T also helps to reduce barriers to work by providing support services such as transportation, educational materials, and training tools to achieve self-sufficiency.

    How do I know if I am an ABAWD or mandatory work participant who is subject to work requirements?
    • You are an ABAWD who is subject to mandatory work requirements if you are age 18 through 52 and not exempt due to one of the criteria below:
      • Determined physically or mentally unfit for employment (receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), veteran’s disability, or private disability (temporary or permanent)),
      • Unfit for employment due to physical or mental limitation,
      • Working and/or volunteering at least 80 hours per month (you will not be referred to the CareerSource center if meeting work requirements on their own).
      • Have someone under age 18 in your SNAP household.
      • Pregnant.
      • Homeless.
      • Veteran.
      • Former foster youth aged 24 or younger who was in foster care on your 18th birthday or later.
    • You are a mandatory work participant subject to work requirements if you do not have dependents, are ages 53-59 and not exempt due to one of the work exempt criteria below:
      • Responsible for the care of a dependent child under age 6.
      • Responsible for the care of an incapacitated individual, whether or not you live with the individual.
      • Determined physically or mentally unfit for employment (receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), veteran’s disability, or private disability (temporary or permanent)).
      • Unfit for employment due to physical or mental limitation.
      • Receiving or applied for Reemployment Assistance.
      • Employed or self-employed, working at least 120 hours monthly or earning $870 per month.
      • A regular participant in a drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation program (Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Sober Homes do not qualify).
      • A student enrolled at least half-time in any recognized school, training program, or an institution of higher education.
      • Complying with Temporary Cash Assistance Work Requirements.
      • Have someone under age 18 in your SNAP household.
      • Pregnant.
      • Homeless.
      • Veteran.
      • Former foster youth aged 24 or younger who were in foster care on their 18th birthday or later.
    • If any of these apply to you, you must contact the Florida Department of Children and Families (Department). We will consider your information to determine if you are exempt from participating in the work activities.
    What does it mean to be an ABAWD or mandatory work participant for food assistance?
    • If you are an ABAWD or mandatory work participant and you do not meet any of the exemptions listed above, you will be required to participate in the SNAP E&T program, operated by CareerSource centers across the State of Florida. To find a CareerSource center near you, visit: https://lcd.floridajobs.org/
    • If you start to receive food assistance and must participate in SNAP E&T activities, you will receive a letter from the Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce) about the SNAP E&T Program. This letter will explain work activity requirements such as employment or participation in educational activities. Please make sure to follow the instructions in the letter or your food assistance may be terminated.
    • ABAWDs must work or participate in the SNAP E&T Program for at least 80 hours per month. ABAWDs who fail to work or participate in SNAP E&T can only receive food assistance for 3 months in a 36-month period. ABAWDs who have already received food assistance for 3 time-limited months may receive them again by meeting an exemption, working, or taking part in a work program for at least 80 or more hours separately or in combination in any month before applying for food assistance.
    • Mandatory work participants must also work or participate in the SNAP E&T Program for at least 120 hours monthly.
    • If you receive a letter from FloridaCommerce, call the phone number in the letter if you have any questions.
    What should I do if I am unable to work?
    • If you have a particular circumstance that makes participation difficult, you can request a good cause exemption. Good cause includes temporary circumstances beyond a person’s control. Some examples are:
      • Illness or temporary disability
      • Illness of another household member
      • A household emergency
    • Other reasons may be considered good cause. If you are not sure, contact the Department to discuss your situation.
    • If you have not already reported the situation that makes you unable to work, or you think you should be exempt from work requirements, you must report your situation as soon as possible. You can report this in your MyACCESS Account by selecting “Report a Change,” or contact the Customer Call Center at (850) 300-4323.
    How will I be notified if I have work requirements for food assistance?
    • Your notice from the Department will identify which household members must participate in work activities.
    • If you are required to participate in SNAP E&T, FloridaCommerce will mail an Employment and Training Referral letter that outlines next steps for completing orientation and scheduling an appointment with a case manager.
    • Information from FloridaCommerce will be sent by regular mail, even if you opted to receive notices electronically from the Department.
    • Once you have completed orientation, you will be able to opt in to receive future notices from the CareerSource center electronically.
    • It is very important that the Department and FloridaCommerce have a valid mailing address on file for your household. You can verify and update your address through your MyACCESS Account or the Chatbot.
    Who do I notify if I have a job?
    • If you are working, notify the Department through your MyACCESS Account or by contacting the Customer Call Center at (850) 300-4323.
    Do I have to notify the Department of any changes?
    • If you are approved for food assistance, you must contact the Department to report any of the following changes by the 10th day of the month after the month of the change:
      • If you are an ABAWD and your work hours fall below 80 hours per month
      • Your monthly income exceeds 130% of the Federal Poverty Level
      • Your substantial lottery or gambling winnings of $4,250 or more won in a single game
    • While not required, you should contact the Department to report any changes in your household circumstances that might make you subject to work requirements (for example: Reemployment Assistance benefits ending or a child leaving the home).
    What are Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDB)?
    • Florida’s statewide workforce agency is CareerSource Florida. CareerSource Florida partners with local workforce development boards to provide information to Floridians about available jobs, on-the-job training, and education and training services. Mandatory work participants can meet work requirements in a variety of ways including accessing services offered through a local CareerSource center. To find a CareerSource center  near you, visit https://lcd.floridajobs.org/
    What are the food assistance work requirements for ABAWDs and mandatory work participants?
    • An ABAWD must meet the work requirements each month to continue to receive food assistance benefits. Even if you are already meeting these requirements, the local CareerSource center will still contact you so your hours can be tracked. Work requirements for an ABAWD to continue receiving food assistance benefits are:
      • Working or volunteering 80 hours per month
      • Participating 80 hours per month in the SNAP E&T program
      • Completing a combination of these activities 80 hours per month.
    • A mandatory work participant must meet the work requirements each month to continue to receive food assistance benefits. Even if you are already meeting these requirements, the CareerSource center will still contact you so your hours can be tracked. Work requirements for a mandatory work participant to continue receiving food assistance benefits are:
      • Register for work at the time of application and every 12 months thereafter
      • Participate in the E&T program, if assigned
      • Give the CareerSource center information regarding your employment status or availability for work;
      • Report to an employer, if referred;
      • Accept a valid offer of suitable employment;
      • Not voluntarily, and without good cause, quit a job of 30 or more hours a week or reduce work hours to less than 30 hours a week.
    • You must inform your local CareerSource case manager of your hours. Failure to contact your local CareerSource center will result in benefits ending. If you are already meeting the work requirements and you receive a notice to complete orientation, contact the Department and ask the eligibility specialist to review your referral information.
    What are sanctions and time limits, and how do they impact me?
    • If you are an ABAWD or mandatory work participant and you do not complete work requirements, or do not meet an exemption, a sanction will be imposed that stops your food assistance benefits.
    • If you are an ABAWD any months of food assistance benefits that you receive while you are not completing work requirements are counted as time-limited months. You can only receive 3 months of time-limited food assistance within a 3-year period. The current 3-year period is from January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025. For additional information on the SNAP work requirements visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/work-requirements .  Time limits do not apply to mandatory work participants.
    How long do I have to wait to receive my benefits again if I do not meet work requirements?
    • For both ABAWDs and mandatory work participants, the minimum waiting (also known as sanction) period is 1 month but could be as long as 3 or 6 months if it is the second or third time that you have not completed work requirements. After you have served the minimum sanction period, you will need to resume work activities with your local CareerSource center or on your own prior to reapplying.
    What should I do if I receive a notice that my benefits will be sanctioned (stopped) on a certain effective date and I have new information to report?
    • Prior to a sanction taking effect, you will receive a notice from the Department informing you that your local CareerSource center has determined you to be out of compliance with work requirements. You will be given a due date to contact the Department to report a change in circumstance or a good cause reason for not completing the work requirements.
    • If you need to report new information before a sanction takes effect, you can report a change in your MyACCESS Account, contact the ACCESS Customer Call Center, or visit a Family Resource Center or Community Partner. If you need to report new information after the effective date of a sanction, you must reapply for benefits at www.myflorida.com/accessflorida and your situation will be evaluated.
    What happens once I receive 3 months of time-limited food assistance?
    • The 3 time-limited months only applies to ABAWDs.  If you are an ABAWD and receive three months of time-limited food assistance during the 3-year period, you will lose your eligibility for food assistance until the next 3-year period starts, unless you meet an exemption or start working at least 80 hours a month. For additional information on the SNAP work requirements visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/work-requirements
    Can I regain my eligibility if I have already used three months of time-limited food assistance?
    • As an ABAWD, you can regain your eligibility before you reapply by meeting an exemption, or doing the following:
      • Working or volunteering 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
      • Participating in a work program for 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
      • Completing a combination of the above for 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
    • If you regain your eligibility by working or volunteering, you can receive up to three additional months of time-limited food assistance while not meeting an exemption and not meeting work requirements. These are called bonus months.
    • While receiving bonus months, if you become noncompliant with CareerSource and receive a sanction the sanction for noncompliance will cancel out your remaining bonus months.
    What are bonus months?
    • If you are an ABAWD and you have regained your eligibility, by working or volunteering, after receiving 3 months of time-limited food assistance during the 3-year period, you could be eligible for up to an additional 3 months of food assistance while not complying with work requirements or meeting an exemption. These are called bonus months. You will receive the bonus months as soon as you notify the Department that you are not fulfilling the work requirements or meeting an exemption.
    • Bonus months can only be used once every 3-year period and must be used one after the other. If you use them during this 3-year period, you will not be eligible to receive them again until the new 3-year period begins.
    Am I exempt from work requirements during my bonus months?
    • No. If you were not already participating in a CareerSource work program, you will be referred to a CareerSource center. You are still responsible for fulfilling the work requirements once you are referred to CareerSource. You can be sanctioned while receiving bonus months if you do not comply with work requirements.
    • While you can receive bonus months once every 3-year period, you may only receive 1 or 2 if you are sanctioned. Unused bonus months cannot be used again, even if you later regain your eligibility during the next 3-year period.
    What happens if I do not meet the ABAWD work requirements after I have used my bonus months?
    • If you are not fulfilling the work requirements or meeting an exemption after using your bonus months, your benefits will end, and you will lose your eligibility for food assistance until the next 3-year period starts.
      To receive food assistance before then, you will need to regain your eligibility before you reapply by doing the following:
      • Working or volunteering 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
      • Participating in a work program for 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
      • Completing a combination of the above for 80 hours or more during any month before reapplying
    • You must be meeting work requirements or have an exemption to the work requirements at the time of application to be eligible and receive food assistance.
    If I am identified as an ABAWD or mandatory work participant, will it change the amount of my food assistance benefits?
    • No. Being identified as an ABAWD or mandatory work participant does not change the amount of your food assistance benefits.
    Can I opt out of this program?
    • No. If you are identified as an ABAWD or mandatory work participant, you must complete the work requirements. You cannot opt out if you want to keep receiving your food assistance benefits.
    If I am an ABAWD or mandatory work participant with work requirements for the Food Assistance Program, does this affect my Medicaid eligibility or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)?
    • Persons identified as ABAWDs, or mandatory work participants are not likely to have Medicaid or TCA because a person must be disabled or have children in the household to be eligible for those benefits. Eligibility for each benefit is determined based on the rules for that program.

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