PM 03-15-02: Persons Exempt from the Work Provisions

WAG 03-15-02

SNAP customers are required to comply with the Work Provisions in PM 03-15-01, unless they meet an exemption reason. A person is exempt from the Work Provisions if they are:

  • under age 16 or age 60 or older; or
  • an ineligible SNAP household member (see PM 04-05-07); or
  • age 16 or 17; and
    • not the SNAP head of household; or
    • attending school or is enrolled in an employment training program on at least a half-time basis; or
  • a student enrolled at least half-time in any recognized school or training program, or institution of higher education.
    • students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education must meet the student eligibility requirements in (PM 03-04-03-b). A student will remain exempt during normal periods of the school term, school breaks, and school vacations. 
    • a student who graduates, enrolls less than half-time, is suspended or expelled, drops out, or does not intend to register for the next normal school term (excluding summer school) must be registered to work unless the individual qualifies for another exemption (see WAG 03-15-02); or
  • physically or mentally unable to work (see WAG 03-15-02); or
  • revised manual texta parent or other adult household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under age 6. Only one adult may claim this exemption. When there is more than one adult in the home, the adult that provides the majority of the care qualifies for the exemption. The child does not have to live in the home; or
  • revised manual textresponsible for the care of an incapacitated person. The incapacitated person does not have to live in the home; or
  • receiving unemployment compensation. A person who has applied for, but has not yet received unemployment is also exempt if that person complying with work requirements that are part of the Federal-State unemployment application process; or
  • a regular participant enrolled in and cooperating with a substance abuse treatment program; or
  • participating and complying with the TANF work and training requirements, if receiving TANF; or 
  • working at least 30 hours per week or receiving weekly wages of 30 times the Federal minimum wage ($7.25). (See WAG 25-06-08). The person can be employed or self-employed,
    • This includes migrant and seasonal farm workers under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within 30 days. An employed or self-employed person who voluntarily and without good cause reduces his or her work effort, and after the reduction is working less than 30 hours per week, is ineligible to participate in SNAP. 
    • AmeriCorps volunteers working 30 or more hours a week paid, unpaid, or paid in-kind (living stipend) or receiving weekly wages of 30 times the Federal minimum wage meet this exemption. Participation as a volunteer in AmeriCorps alone does not qualify a person for the exemption. The volunteer must be working a minimum of 30 hours per week or receiving weekly wages at least equal to 30 times the Federal minimum wage. This is not an exemption that meets special student eligibility requirements.

Mini-Simplified SNAP

  • This section is informational only and provides information on how the state aligned its SNAP work requirements and TANF work and training requirement to help meet the TANF participation rate.
  • In February 2008, Illinois began operating a Mini Simplified SNAP, an option under the Welfare Reform Act and the Food Stamp Act, which allows what is currently referred to as SNAP work requirements to be aligned with TANF work and training requirements to help meet the TANF participation rate. This allows TANF work and training activities, such as Work Experience and Community Work to be acceptable activities in which TANF/SNAP households may have the value of their SNAP benefits combined with the value of their TANF benefits (PM 03-13-01-b) to help meet participation hours. If a TANF sanction is imposed (after reconciliation) for failure to comply with a TANF work and training activity, a SNAP sanction is also imposed (if the individual receives SNAP and fails to comply with the requirement). TANF/SNAP clients who meet an exemption in (PM 03-13-02 are not required to participate in TANF work and training. However an exception applies to the TANF exemption, caring for a child under age 1 and the SNAP exemption, caring for a  child under 6, the state chose not to align these two exemptions. 
    • Example: TANF policy exempts a person from the work and training requirements if they have a child under age 1. SNAP policy exempts from work rules if the child is under age 6. 
    • Ms. M has a child who is age 2 and is not complying with a TANF work and training work activity. For TANF she can be sanctioned. She is not sanctioned for SNAP because she has a child under age 6.
  • A person who is participating and complying with the TANF work and training requirements is exempt from Work Provisions.