03/28/18
Policy Memo
Summary
- This policy memo impacts SNAP customers residing in DuPage County who are subject to SNAP Work Requirement ABAWD Time-Limited benefits and lost eligibility for SNAP effective April 2018.
- SNAP customers residing in DuPage County who used their initial 3-months (January, February, March) of ABAWD time-limited SNAP benefits without meeting the work requirement lost eligibility for SNAP effective April 2018. These SNAP households were either canceled or a member of the SNAP household was disqualified due to not meeting the work requirement.
- The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is applying a 15 percent exemption to each able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWDs) residing in DuPage County who lost their SNAP eligibility effective April 2018 due to not meeting the work requirement. The ABAWD Time-Limited Clock has been modified for these individuals only for the month of January 2018. February and March will remain as unmet months. These individuals will have one additional month (April) to meet the work requirement. If the requirement is not met for April, then SNAP eligibility will end effective May 2018.
- Client Notice (CN 18.05) (pdf) will be mailed on or around April 2, 2018, to notify customers of the change to their SNAP Work Requirement ABAWD Time-limited Clock for the month of January 2018.
Federal law provides that each State agency be allotted exemptions equal to 15 percent of the State's caseload that is ineligible for benefits because of the ABAWD time limit. These exemptions allow a State agency to extend SNAP eligibility for ABAWDs subject to the time limit. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has made the decision to apply an exemption to each ABAWD residing in DuPage County who lost SNAP eligibility effective April 2018 due to not meeting the work requirement. The exemptions will be allowed for the month of January 2018 only. The 15 percent exemption is not determined by FCRC staff.
ABAWD Time-Limited Clock Modified
SNAP customers residing in DuPage County who have used their initial 3- months (January, February, March) of ABAWD time-limited SNAP benefits without meeting the work requirement lost their eligibility for SNAP effective April 2018. IES is centrally reinstating SNAP households that were canceled or that had a household member disqualified due to not meeting the work requirement. The ABAWD Time-Limited Clock has been modified for these individuals only for the month of January 2018. This allows an individual who lost eligibility to have an additional month (April) to meet the work requirement. February and March will remain as unmet months.
Work Requirement Not Met in the Additional Month (April)
If the work requirement is not met by these individuals for the month of April, IES will cancel SNAP benefits effective May 2018 for a single person household or disqualify a household member that has not complied with the work requirement. IES will send the notice of adverse action.
Client Notice
Client Notice (CN 18.05) will be mailed on or around April 2, 2018, to notify the customer of the change to their SNAP Work Requirement ABAWD Time-Limited Clock for the month of January 2018.
FCRC Action
SNAP households impacted by this change are being centrally reinstated by IES. If a customer contacts the office in response to CN 18.05, the FCRC should explain to the customer how this change affects their eligibility for SNAP and that they have an additional month to meet the work requirement before losing eligibility. Provide assistance to any customer who needs a referral to an agency or entity that can help them meet the work requirement. The 15 percent exemption is not determined by FCRC staff.
[signed copy on file]
James T. Dimas
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
