6.2 FSET Participant Status

FoodShare members are assigned a participant status, which relates to the work requirement for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs). This status is determined by the Income Maintenance (IM) agency and is provided to FSET agencies as part of a referral or referral update. FSET workers should be aware of notifications from the IM agency regarding changes in participant status as these changes may impact FSET participation requirements. The three participation statuses include non-ABAWD, exempt ABAWD, and non-exempt ABAWD.

6.2.1 Non-ABAWD

A FoodShare member is a non-ABAWD if he or she meets any one of the following criteria, as determined by the IM agency:

Under age 18* or age 50** and older;
Unable to work;
Residing in a FoodShare household with a child under age 18***; or
Pregnant.

*Age 18: ABAWD status applies the month following the month the FoodShare applicant or member turns age 18.

**Age 50: ABAWD status is lost the first day of the month an ABAWD turns age 50.

***An individual may be determined a non-ABAWD if he or she resides in a FoodShare unit where a household member is under age 18, even if the household member who is under age 18 is ineligible for FoodShare.

All other FoodShare members are ABAWDs.

Non-ABAWDs are not subject to time-limited FoodShare benefits (TLBs). They may participate voluntarily in FSET and are referred to FSET only upon their request. They do not need to participate in FSET in order to meet the ABAWD work requirement, see Appendix G – FSET Participant Statuses for more information.

For more information about ABAWD status and exemptions, see FoodShare Handbook 3.17.1.

6.2.2 Exempt ABAWD

A FoodShare member is an exempt ABAWD if he or she is an ABAWD who meets at least one of the following criteria, as determined by the IM agency:

Determined unfit for employment, which includes someone who is:
- Receiving temporary or permanent disability benefits from the government or a private source;
- Unable to work due to physical or mental challenges, as determined by the IM agency;
- Verified as unable to work by a statement from a health care professional or a social worker (may use Form-01598 Medical Exemption from Work Requirement for ABAWDs to verify).
- Experiencing chronic homeless.
- - An individual is chronically homeless if he or she currently lacks a fixed regular nighttime residence and does not expect to have a regular nighttime residence in the next 30 days. This includes people who are in a temporary housing situation.
Receiving Unemployment Compensation (UC) or has applied for UC and is complying with UC work requirements;
Regularly participating in an alcohol or other drug abuse (AODA) treatment or rehabilitation program;
A student of higher education and is otherwise eligible for FoodShare, see the FoodShare Handbook section 3.15.1;
Is a high school student 18 years of age or older, attending high school at least half-time;
Primary caregiver of a dependent child under age 6 or an incapacitated person;
Receiving transitional FoodShare benefits; or
Meeting the ABAWD work requirement outside of FSET through work and/or other allowable work program participation.

Exempt ABAWDs are not subject to TLBs during months in which they have a verified exemption. Individuals that have a pending exemption may be referred as non-exempt ABAWDs. ABAWDs may gain or lose exemptions for a variety of reasons.

Exempt ABAWDs may participate voluntarily in FSET and are referred to FSET only upon their request. They do not need to participate in FSET in order to meet the ABAWD work requirement.

Note: Although IM workers have primary responsibility for determining ABAWD exemptions, FSET workers may also identify that an individual qualifies for one of the above listed ABAWD exemptions once they begin working with a participant. When an ABAWD exemption is identified, the FSET worker must contact the IM agency to notify them of the exemption and work with the participant to initiate the process of verifying the exemption.

For more information about ABAWD status and exemptions, see FoodShare Handbook 3.17.1.

6.2.3 Non-Exempt ABAWD

A FoodShare member is a non-exempt ABAWD if he or she is an ABAWD and is not currently meeting an exemption from the ABAWD work requirement as determined by the IM agency. Non-exempt ABAWDs are subject to TLBs and need to meet the ABAWD work requirement to remain eligible for FoodShare. One of the ways these individuals can meet the work requirement is through FSET participation.

All non-exempt ABAWDs receive a referral to FSET. Non-exempt ABAWDs are not required to participate in FSET as a condition of FoodShare eligibility. However they may lose eligibility for FoodShare due to failing to meet the work requirement after exhausting three months of TLBs in a 36-month period.

For more information about ABAWD status and exemptions, see FoodShare Handbook 3.17.1.

Note: An individual may request a fair hearing if he or she disagrees with the IM agency’s determination of ABAWD status. (see section 6.4.1 of the FoodShare Handbook.)

This page last updated in Release Number: 16-01

Release Date: 04/12/2016

Effective Date: 04/12/2016