FNS Documents & Resources

This was a live-streamed session at the 2022 SNAP E&T National Forum. Emerging from the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will require state agencies to eventually resume enforcing the time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).

This is an extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. USDA requires that state agencies report outcome data for the SNAP E&T programs. In order for FNS to monitor the effectiveness of E&T programs state agencies are required to report outcome data on five separate reporting measures.

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2023. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.

This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection of information relating to a time limit of the receipt of benefits under SNAP for certain able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are not working.

This memorandum adjusts the total number of exemptions available to each state for FY 2022. This includes increases in the number of exemptions available to states in which caseloads increased by more than 10 percent.

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2022. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.

This guide consolidates and underscores FNS policy concerning waivers of the ABAWD time limit and replaces its predecessor, FNS' December 2016 Guide to Supporting Requests to Waive the Time Limit for Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWD). FNS advises state agencies to use this guide to understand, obtain, and prepare evidence that successfully supports an ABAWD time limit waiver request based on relevant sections of the Act; federal regulations; and historical SNAP policy.

This memorandum provides guidance to help states prepare to implement the SNAP time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) once the temporary and partial suspension under the Family First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) lapses. States must properly implement the time limit for ABAWDs while ensuring program access for all eligible participants.

This notice invites the public to comment on a new collection for: (1) documenting the policies and guidelines used for making fitness for work determinations; (2) describing the process state agencies use for making fitness for work determinations; (3) determining any general patterns and trends in fitness for work and good cause determinations within and across four case study states; and (4) determining how closely caseworkers follow the states' fitness for work and good cause determination policies.

FNS is targeting the areas of program operation listed, for state SNAP Agency Management Evaluations for the upcoming fiscal year. State SNAP agencies are required to conduct MEs for the target areas in the upcoming fiscal year.