WAG 03-25-05: How to Meet the Work Requirement

PM 03-25-05

Effective 07/01/2022, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) waiver approval allows the entire State to continue to be exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy in this section through New Manual Text10/31/2025 based on Illinois' high unemployment rate. deleted text 

The SNAP Work Requirement Time-Limited Benefits policy below is NOT in effect for any county in the State through revised manual text10/31/2025.

How to Meet the Work Requirement

Determine if a person who is employed or self-employed is working the required number of hours to be exempt from meeting the Work Requirement or only meeting the requirement.

  • A person who is employed or self- employed 30 hours or more per week or earning weekly wages at least equal to the Federal minimum wage ($7.25) multiplied by 30 hours is exempt from the SNAP Work Requirement.
  • An individual who is employed or self-employed working an average of 20 hours per week (80 hours monthly) or earning at least the Federal minimum wage ($7.25) multiplied by 80 hours ($7.25 x 80) = $580 is meeting the Work Requirement by working the required number of hours. The individual must report when their hours fall below 20 hours per week.

Note: Receipt of income-in-kind meets the work requirement, if a person is actively engaged in work for 80 hours or more per month.

Example: Ms. G applies for SNAP in March. She does not have income. She states that she lives in a motel room and does not have any expenses. She cleans the motel rooms daily for the motel owner in exchange for her living there rent free. The motel owner provides a statement that Ms. G works 80 hours per month. Ms. G meets the Work Requirement by working 80 hours a month in exchange for the motel room.

SNAP E&T Voluntary Program

  • SNAP E&T provider slots may be offered to any SNAP recipient (except a SNAP recipient receiving TANF) who want to volunteer to participate in the SNAP E&T Program on a first come, first served basis. A SNAP E&T slot is not held for an ABAWD to fill. Volunteering for the SNAP E&T Program is an option to help customers meet the Work Requirement. See PM 21-06-00.

Verification of Work Activity and Hours

  • A person remains eligible to receive SNAP each month as long as he or she continues to work, or participates and complies with a SNAP E&T activity or Community Service for the required number of hours monthly.
  • Verify the number of hours the individual is expected to work or participate in an activity at the time of initial application, REDE, or whenever an exempt customer becomes nonexempt. Once it is verified, do not require the customer provide verifications monthly. Based on their Change Reporting status, a customer must report changes to the FCRC within 10 calendar days of the date they learn about the change (PM 18-04-00). This includes when they are no longer participating in an activity, or are no longer working, or when their work hours drop below 20 hours per week.
  • Take action within 10 calendar days of a reported change (PM 18-04-05).  Determine if the reported change has an impact on the customer's eligibility for benefits and ensure that the ABAWD Time-Limited Clock is accurate. Do a manual override of the ABAWD Time-Limited Clock to adjust any met or unmet month.

Good Cause

A customer who is meeting the Work Requirement by working 20 hours per week but misses some work for good cause can still be considered as having met the Work Requirement, if it is temporary and the job is still retained. Good cause includes circumstances beyond the customer's control, such as an illness, a household emergency, or lack of transportation.