Abled Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) and Work Requirements:

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Camps Site Eligibility and Operations Requirements Virginia Department of Health 2014.
Advertisements

Food Support Refresher Minnesota Department of Human Services.
TRAINING SERIES WIA Adult Eligibility WIA Workforce Investment Act.
1 Work Support Program An Individual Training Course for the Work Support Program.
Meal Benefit Eligibility and Verification for Certifying Students’ Eligibility for Meal Benefits Benefit Issuance Verification.
1 Verifying the Deduction for Dependents Dependent is a member of the family other than the family head or spouse (except foster children and foster adults),
Benefits & Transition Overview of SSI vs. SSDI & Medicaid vs. Medicare For transition aged beneficiaries.
1 Noncompliance and Sanction Policy Welfare Transition Statewide Training Agency for Workforce Innovation Spring 2005.
Family & Medical Leave Revised January FMLA & WFMLA FMLA Family & Medical Leave Act (federal) WFMLA Wisconsin Family & Medical Leave Act Leave entitlements.
July 2015 SNAP Changes ABAWD REQUIREMENTS & LOSS OF SNAP BENEFITS.
Food Assistance/Employment First Desk Aide. Employment First Exemptions.
January 7, 2013 Webinar Sponsored by the California Association of Food Banks Reaching Students with CalFresh.
Overview of SNAP Employment & Training Ed Bolen Senior Policy Analyst Center on Budget and Policy Priorities November 2014.
Agency for Workforce Innovation August 2007 Medical Limitations and Incapacity.
F amily A lternatives D iversion The alternative to long-term assistance.
FAMILIES FIRST Adult Education A beginning………. Welcome to Adult Education!
WORK FIRST/TANF INFORMATION SESSION Rev
Social Security & SSI Benefits for Children. The Social Security Administration manages two distinctly different programs that provide benefits based.
Welfare Rights Training 2009 Income Support Taxable: No Means Tested: Yes Basic benefit to bring you and your families income up to the minimum amounts.
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EMPLOYMENT& TRAINING New Direction 2016.
1 SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Amy C. O’Hara, Esq. Littman Krooks LLP
Work Registration The first step in determining participation required in the Employment and Training Program (ETP).
LET’S ROCK AROUND THOSE ABAWD CLOCKS! REGAINING ELIGIBILITY After the receipt of three Y1 months in a 36-month period, a person will not be eligible.
DSHS Customer Application Assistance in Healthplanfinder (HPF)
Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs). General Work Requirement Sect. 6(d) of Food and Nutrition Act and 7 CFR vs. ABAWD Work Requirement.
Non-Compliance and Sanctions Agency for Workforce Innovation Spring Training 2006.
ork ork Work – Part 261 ä Individual Responsibility ä State Accountability ä Work Activities ä Caseload Reduction Credit ä Work Penalties ä Waivers ä.
The “New” SNAP (Food Stamp) Time Limit An informational webinar, December 15, 2015 Presented by: Community Legal Services and the Coalition Against Hunger.
Homeless Households This show is a compilation of policy found throughout Volume II regarding Homeless individuals.
SNAP Policy Training: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) UNDERSTANDING THE NEW SNAP TIME LIMIT AND ITS IMPACT IN MARYLAND RACHEL TUCKER MARYLAND.
The benefits received from Social Security are based on the earnings your employer (or you if self-employed) reported, using your Social Security number.
Oklahoma Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Project OWIPA Funded by the Social Security Administration 1 Oklahoma Work Incentives Planning and Assistance.
GUIDANCE OF WORK For Employment First Counties. GUIDANCE OF WORK The Following Requirements must be met:
North Sound Basic Food Education Forum
Understanding SNAP E&T’s
The SNAP federal program and higher education students
Welfare Assistance GOVT Module 16.
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Washington Connection Benefit Portal Partnership
Leave of Absence General Information.
Partnership Opportunity is Knocking!
Snohomish County Basic Food Education Forum
NEVER WORK WITHOUT A NET:
South Sound Basic Food Education Forum
1.03 Healthcare Finances.
Poverty Law 1 MFIP-S Five Year Time Limit Overview of Emergency Assistance Programs Adjunct Professor Monica Bogucki, BSW, JD Copyright.
Poverty Law 1, MFIP-S Income Lecture Adjunct Professor Monica Bogucki
How to Get a 16 Year Old a Job
Workforce Solutions Brazos Valley
News From Washington Bob Knight ResCare Workforce Services
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Eligibility
Navigating the Verification Process A Diagram for Households
Arkansas Works Overview
What is the Family and Medical Leave Act?
Work and Community Engagement Overview Registered Reporter Information
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Eligibility
Supported Employment Workforce Innovation Opportunity ACT (WIOA)
Personal and Dependency Exemptions
Welfare Assistance December 7, 2017.
Employer’s Guide to Hiring International Students
Alecia Eubanks, NJ SNAP Unit Supervisor
TANF/VIEW Non-Compliance and Sanctions BPRO 2017 Spring Conference
Iowa Food Assistance Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Personal and Dependency Exemptions
Coffee chat with child care
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Unpaid, job-protected leave provided by a federal law (the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993) that provides certain.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP
Coffee chat with child care
ABAWD Time Limit Preparing for implementation of the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) rule in Contra Costa County.
Overview of Emergency Assistance Programs MFIP-S Five Year Time Limit Adjunct Professor Monica Bogucki, BSW, JD 2019 Copyright.
Presentation transcript:

Abled Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) and Work Requirements: Created by: Robert Cox, Presented by: Deborah M. Brown & Tracie Crumel Operational Support Team Welcome to the Abled Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) and Work Requirement Presentation. Today we will define this population and discus the Food and Nutrition Services Program requirements necessary to qualify for assistance. 2016 Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Convening August 22-24, 2016

ABAWD and Work Requirements Workers very often confuse the two policies and try to apply them both as one. ABAWD and Work Requirements policies are two separate policies. The two policies are related to each other and have some areas that are interconnected but are applied separately. There is a third policy, Employment &Training, that is also related but is it’s own separate policy but we won’t be discussing that policy today. What I wanted to do today is talk about each of the individual policies of ABAWD requirements and Work Registration and then go through a typical eligibility workflow to illustrate how it is applied to cases.

Who do Work Requirements apply to? Work Requirements apply to all eligible FNS unit members that are between the ages of 16 through 59 unless they meet a Work Requirements exemption. Work Requirements apply to ALL eligible FNS households and their members unless they are exempt. (We will discuss those exemptions in a few minutes.) Because Work Requirements is a separate policy it applies regardless of the ABAWD status of the household members. Work Requirements apply only to eligible individuals so they do not apply to ineligible individuals such as drug felons, ineligible students, fleeing felons, etc.. Because these individuals are not included in the FNS benefit.

What are Work Requirements? Registered for Work. Participate in Employment &Training program if assigned. Do not voluntarily quit a job. Do not voluntarily reduce hours. Must comply with Unemployment Benefits requirements. Must comply with WFFA Employment Services Register for Work – we will discuss what constitutes registration in a moment. Participate in Employment &Training program if one exist in their county of residence. Do not Voluntarily quit a job or reduce hours below of 30 hours or equal to 30 hours times minimum wage without good cause. Comply with UIB and WFFA Employment Services.

When does Work Requirements registration occur? Appropriate Work Registration evidence entered into NC FAST. AND The DSS-8640, Work Registration Responsibilities form is completed in NC FAST and the original is provided to the FNS unit. These are two steps necessary to complete the Work Registration requirement. The individuals must be provided the DSS-8640, Work Registration Responsibilities at each application, recertification, and when a previously exempt FNS unit member becomes subject to WR during the certification period. No further action is required unless there is a change in their WR status. These individuals are considered registered after you complete these two steps.

Who is exempt from Work Requirements? Age Individuals age 60 or older. Individuals younger than 16. Age 16 or 17 and not the Head of Household. Age 16 or 17 Head of Household in school at least halftime or in an employment or training program. Parent / Caretaker Individuals that have applied for or are receiving Unemployment Benefits Physically or Mentally unfit for Employment Disabled Specified Person It is important to note that unless the individual meets one of the following exemptions they should be Work registered. Any individual meeting one of the exemptions should not be registered for work. Parent / Caretaker A parent or other FNS unit member who is responsible for providing the care of a child under age six. If both parents are in the home, only one can claim this exemption, regardless of the number of children that live in the home. A parent responsible for a child over age 5 and under age 12 is exempt when day care is not available to allow the parent to work or join a work study program. The child does not have to be a member of the FNS unit. The child does not have to live in the same residence as the FNS unit. Individuals that have applied for or are receiving UIB Physically or Mentally unfit for Employment Verify the disability, if the person does not receive a disability payment. A statement from a physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, designated representative at a doctor’s office, or other medical personnel deemed appropriate, or a licensed or certified psychologist is required. The DSS-8655, Report of Medical Examination, may be used to obtain verification of a mental or physical disability. Disabled Specified Person Individuals age 60 or older or receiving disability such as SSI 100% VA.

Who is exempt from Work Requirements? Employed Self-Employed Narcotics Addict or Alcoholic Student Caretaker of Incapacitated Person Jointly processed SSI household Refugee Household Work First Family Assistance applicant or participant Employed Working an avg. of 30 hours per week or wages equal to Federal Minimum Wages multiplied by 30 hours. Notice that this exemption is allowed for the number of hours OR wages that are equal. Self-Employed Works an avg. of 30 hours per week or wages equal to Federal Minimum Wages multiplied by 30 hours. Notice that this exemption is allowed for the number of hours OR wages that are equal. Narcotics Addict or Alcoholic Exempt a FNS unit member who participates regularly as a resident or nonresident in a drug or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program. Student Exempt an individual who is 18 or older and is a student enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the institution or program in which he is enrolled) in any training program or school, including high school or institution of higher education, which is recognized by a federal, State, or local government. Caretaker of Incapacitated Person Exempt a FNS unit member who is responsible for the care of an incapacitated person. Incapacitated means that the person is incapable of normal activity, and the presence of another person is necessary to protect the health, safety, etc., of the incapacitated person. Jointly processed SSI household Refugee Household Work First Family Assistance applicant or participant Exempt individuals that are applying for or receiving WFFA who are subject to WFFA employment services requirements.

Review Work Requirements Work Requirements apply to all eligible individuals regardless of ABAWD status. Enter the correct Work Requirement evidence. Notify the client using the DSS-8640 Do not register individuals that do not meet the Work Requirement criteria or individuals that are exempt. Review bullets. That is the first piece of the puzzle. Lets talk about the next piece of the puzzle. ABAWDs.

What is an Able-bodied Adult without Dependents (ABAWD)?   An ABAWD is an Able-Bodied Adult between ages 18 and 49, and Without child/ren in the FNS unit, and Does not meet one of the ABAWD exemptions. While ABAWD, Employment & Training, and Work Registration policies are related to each other, each are applied individually. Non-exempt FNS unit members between the ages of 18 and 49 continue to be subject to the FNS work requirements described in Section 240, regardless of whether or not they are exempt from the ABAWD FNS work requirement. If the individual does not meet these requirements then they are not an ABAWD. Don’t complicate the eligibility process by calling these people exempt ABAWDs. They are simply not an ABAWD.

Who is exempt from ABAWD requirements? Under 18 or 50 years of age or over:   Members of an FNS unit containing a member who is under age 18: Pregnant Exempt from FNS work requirements described in manual section 240.    An individual that meets at least one of the exemptions listed in this section is not subject to the ABAWD time-limit. Important to note that if an individual is exempt for any part of the month, the individual is exempt for the entire month. Under 18 or 50 years of age or over: The ABAWD FNS work requirement begins the month after the 18th birthday. For applicant households the ABAWD FND work requirements for the 18th birthday are based on the member’s age on the date of application. The ABAWD FNS work requirement no longer applies beginning the first day of the month of the individual’s 50th birthday. Members of an FNS unit containing a member who is under age 18: The individual is not required to be the parent of the child. The individual is not required to be responsible for the child. The child can be an ineligible member of the FNS household for any reason (such as but not limited to being an ineligible alien). The child can be temporarily absent from the home (no longer than 30 days). Pregnant There is no minimum length of pregnancy to meet the exemption. A medical statement verifying pregnancy will be necessary if the pregnancy is not obvious Exempt from FNS work requirements described in manual section 240. Follow the policy in section 240 for verification requirements for this exemption. FNS work requirements and ABAWD requirements are two separate policies that while related to each other also stand alone. This is where the two individual policies are related to each other. While being exempt from Work Requirements also exempt you from ABAWD requirements, it does not work the other way around.

Who is exempt from ABAWD requirements? Unfit for employment (even if temporarily) for one of the following reasons: Receiving public or private disability benefits such as:   Obviously unfit for work based on worker’s observation or judgment. If the medical condition is obvious, document in NC FAST. Medically-certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment. Unfit for employment due to chronic homeless. Unfit for employment due alcohol or drug dependence addiction. Receiving public or private disability benefits such as: Workers’ compensation and other temporary disability benefits. Medicaid based on disability. Social Security or Veterans Benefits based on disability (regardless of the percentage) Obviously unfit based on worker’s observation. This is up to the worker to make a decision based on your experiences with the individual. Suggest that you talk about it with staff to come to some general guidelines so that your workers are consistent within your county. Document you decision in NC FAST. Medically-certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment. Confirm by a medical professional’s statement if not obvious. Accept a medical statement from a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, designated representative at a doctor’s office, or other appropriate medical personnel; Unfit for employment due to chronic homeless. Homeless for this purpose includes living on the street, in a car, or in a homeless shelter. Applicant statement is sufficient verification of homeless. If the ABAWD attests that s/he is homeless because s/he may not have a place of her/his own, but is living in a home with someone else, this individual is not considered “homeless” for the purpose of exemption from ABAWD time limits since s/he has a place to stay.   Unfit for employment due alcohol or drug dependence addiction. The ABAWD’s involvement in alcohol / drug treatment is not required, Accept written or verbal statement of a Medical Professional, Social Worker, Counselor, etc. that the ABAWD’s alcohol / drug dependence negatively affects the individual’s fitness for work. Accept applicant’s statement for those who are not in treatment, if no other sources are available. Remember what I said earlier. Don’t complicate the eligibility process by calling these people exempt ABAWDs. They are simply not an ABAWD.

What do the ABAWD requirements mean to the FNS unit? ABAWDs are limited to receiving 3 Countable (free) months in a 36-month period. There is no limit on the number of non-countable months an ABAWD may receive. After using the 3 free months some individuals may qualify for an additional 3 bonus months. ABAWD requirements do not replace any other eligibility requirements, nor does it create eligibility where it does not otherwise exist. What it does mean for those individuals that meet the ABAWD requirements is they are limited to receiving 3 months out of a 36 month period. North Carolina uses a fixed 36 month period which currently runs from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. We divide months into countable (or free) and non-countable months which we will talk about in a few minutes.

What are Countable (Free) Months? ABAWD What are Countable (Free) Months? Non-prorated month of FNS benefits Individual does not meet an exemption from ABAWD requirements Countable or Free months are months that are applied to the ABAWDS 3 month limit. In order to be considered a countable month the month must be both Non-prorated month of FNS benefits and The Individual does not meet any exemptions during the month.

What are Non-Countable Months? ABAWD What are Non-Countable Months? Prorated months Any month in which the individual meets at least one of the following ABAWD Work Requirements: Working an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours in a month) Participating in and complying with the requirements of a work program for an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours in a month) It only makes sense that if Countable months are counted toward the 3 month limit that Non-Countable months are months that do not count toward the individuals 3 month limit. Do not count any prorated month. Do not count any month in which the ABAWD meets one of the ABAWD work requirements. Those include Working and work programs which we will discuss next. When you are counting the number of hours remember if the individual experiences circumstances beyond their control, such as illness, household emergency, or the unavailability of transportation.

What is considered work? ABAWD What is considered work? Paid employment, regardless of earnings. Self-employment, regardless of earnings. Volunteer work for a public or private organization. Work in exchange for goods or services. Any combination of the above. Paid employment regardless of earnings. Request verification of income and hours worked. Document the number of hours worked in NC FAST. Self-employment regardless of earnings. Request the applicant’s statement of hours worked per month if the individual is self-employed.  You will notice that unlike the Work Registration policy that in the ABAWD policy it doesn’t look at earnings. It is based off the number of hours per week or month. Volunteer work (approved by the counties) a public or private organizations. Accept volunteer work for any legitimate public/private nonprofit, churches or other religious groups, community organizations or governmental agency or community service ordered by a court. Request written or verbal verification from the agency of the number of hours volunteered in that month.   Work in exchange for goods or services (such as but not limited to, work in exchange for a place to live). Request written or verbal verification of the number of hours worked in that month. Document in NC FAST

What is considered a work program? ABAWD What is considered a work program? A program under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA); A program under Trade Adjustment Assistance Act Program (TAA); A program that includes qualifying ABAWD activities so long as job search and/or job search training is less than half hours required by of the program (See chart below).  ABAWDs are not required to participate in a work program for longer than the 20 hours per week to fulfill the ABAWD work requirement. However, if the ABAWD has been referred to an E&T program in order to fulfill the ABAWD work requirement, the E&T program may require additional hours of participation.  An ABAWDs total hours of required participation in E&T, together with any hours worked for compensation in cash or in-kind (including work experience) cannot exceed 120 hours per month. Participants may volunteer for additional hours of training.  ABAWDs participating in a work program can combine job search and/or job search training (9 hours maximum) with other ABAWD qualifying activities to allow ABAWDs to meet the 20 hour weekly work requirement

ABAWD What happens after an ABAWD uses the 3 countable (free) months? The ABAWD becomes ineligible to participate in the FNS program the month after the last countable month is received during the 36 month period. Single ABAWD FNS units Case will terminate. FNS units with other eligible members The ineligible ABAWD will be excluded from the FNS benefits. The ABAWD is still considered a member of the FNS unit for other policy considerations. The ABAWD must become exempt or regain eligibility to be eligible to participate in the FNS program. All households are giving a 6 month certification period. Current process: The household is informed at approval that they are certified for 6 months but only eligible for the 3 or 4 months during the 36 month period (Jan 2016-Dec 2018) After the last ABAWD month the household is ineligible or benefits reduce. If the whole household is ineligible the case will stay in suspense until the end of the certification period. Future process: The household is informed at approval that they are certified for 6 months but only eligible for the 3 or 4 months. During the last ABAWD month a batch process will be ran in NC FAST. The AA will be sent to propose termination or reduction of benefits. The system will reduce benefits or terminate when the AA expires.

How can an ABAWD regain eligibility? ABAWDs can regain eligibility to participate in FNS if s/he:   Worked (paid and unpaid) 80 hours or more in a 30 day period; or Participated in and complied with the requirements of a work program for 80 or more hours in a 30 day period; or Worked and participated for any combination of hours in a work program for a total of 80 hours or participated in and complied with a workfare program in a 30 day period; Becomes exempt from ABAWD FNS work requirements; or The 36 month (3-year) period expires. Review the options. Options 1, 2, and 3 the individual would be eligible to receive an additional 3 bonus months if they meet the requirements. Option 4 the individual would be eligible to receive FNS benefits as long as they are exempt from ABAWD work requirements. Option 5 the individual would be eligible for 3 free months for the new 3-year period.

What are Bonus Months? ABAWD ABAWDs who have regained eligibility and are not meeting the FNS work requirements can gain an additional 3 consecutive months once during the 3 year period of eligibility. These months are known as Bonus months.    Bonus Month requirements: Apply only to ABAWDs who regained eligibility but are no longer fulfilling the FNS work requirement. Must be consecutive months. Only full months of benefits count toward the Bonus Months. Review slide. Apply only to ABAWDs who regained eligibility but are no longer fulfilling the FNS work requirement. Individuals fulfilling the FNS work requirements are receiving non-countable months so they don’t need to receive bonus months at this time. Must be consecutive months. The three months are counted regardless of participation. Example: Individual applies and is eligible for 3 bonus months. The individual receives the first month and reports that they have a new job. Even though they are meeting the requirements and no longer considered an ABAWD for the 2nd and 3rd month. Those months still count as part of their Bonus month period and cannot be used later. Only full months of benefits count toward the Bonus Months. If the individual regains eligibility you certify them for a new CP you do not count the first month if it is prorated. Example: Individual applies in January and regains eligibility, January is prorated so it does not count. The bonus months are February, March, and April.

What are the caseworker’s responsibilities? ABAWD What are the caseworker’s responsibilities? The worker must: Explain all ABAWD requirements to the household including: Which individuals are currently subject to the ABAWD requirements; Which individuals are potential ABAWDs even if the individual is exempt at the time of application; The 36-month period fixed time clock; The ABAWD’s 3 countable months; ABAWD exemptions; ABAWD non-countable months; and Explain to the household that regardless of simplified reporting, the failure to report a change in ABAWD status during the certification period (ex. becoming exempt, starting work) while the clock is running will result in the termination of benefits for the ABAWD. Provide the household with the DSS-8568 ABAWD Requirements form.

Reapplication / Recertification / Change ABAWD Reapplication / Recertification / Change The worker must: Explore all previously countable ABAWD months to determine if the ABAWD met an exemption in one of the previous months. Ask whether the applicant has completed the ABAWD work requirements within 30 consecutive days or more at any time since losing FNS eligibility, even if the applicant is not currently meeting the ABAWD work requirements. Recode any previous months as exempt or non- exempt, as applicable. When an ABAWD household reapplies for benefits, recertifies for benefits, or reports a change associated with Work Registration or ABAWD requirements the worker must explore if any previous months can be recoded to give the ABAWD additional countable months.

Typical Work Registration / ABAWD Work Flow Is the individual otherwise eligible? No, Deny. Yes, Go to 2. Is the individual subject to Work Requirements? No, approve case. Yes, Go to 3. Is the individual subject to ABAWD requirements? Yes, Go to 4. Has the individual already received all 3 free months? Yes, Deny case. Is the individual / household otherwise eligible? No, then you will deny for the appropriate reason such as drug felon, over income, student, etc…. You will never even look at WR or ABAWD as the individual is not eligible for benefits. Is the individual subject to Work Requirements? No, If the individual is exempt from WR then they are also exempt from ABAWD requirements. Enter the appropriate evidences and process the case. Is the individual subject to ABAWD requirements? No, If the individual is exempt from ABAWD requirements then they have no time limit. Enter the appropriate evidences and process the case. Has the individual already received all 3 free months? Yes, Explore the possibility that any of the previous 3 months can be recoded as non-countable. If not deny for ABAWD. No, Explain ABAWD requirements to FNS unit and process the case. The system will terminate benefits at the end of the 3 ABAWD months.

Questions. Contact: deborah. m. brown@dhhs. nc. gov tracie Questions? Contact: deborah.m.brown@dhhs.nc.gov tracie.crumel @dhhs.nc.gov