SR 23-38 Dated 10/23

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES - Bureau of family assistance (bfa)

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This Supervisory Release (SR) releases a change in which towns are exempt from the work requirements for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). Beginning October 1, 2023 and ending September 30, 2024, ABAWDS residing in the following towns are exempt from ABAWD work requirements: Hale’s Location, Pinkham’s Grant, Stark, Stratford, North Stratford, and Stratford Hollow.

POLICY

In addition to the existing Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements exemption reasons, ABAWDs residing in certain areas with a high unemployment rate and/or lack of available jobs, as approved by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), are also exempt. FNS has confirmed that the following towns meet the high unemployment rate and/or lack of available jobs criteria: Hale’s Location, Pinkham’s Grant, Stark, Stratford, North Stratford, and Stratford Hollow. ABAWDs who reside in these towns are exempt from ABAWD work requirements and therefore are not limited to 3 months of SNAP benefits in a 36-month period and can continue to receive SNAP benefits without meeting ABAWD work requirements through the end of the waiver period, September 30, 2024. The change in which towns are exempt is based upon FNS’ approval of waiver number 00006279 submitted pursuant to 7 CFR 273.24(f) [Section 6(o) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended].

NEW HEIGHTS & NH EASY SYSTEMS PROCEDURES

New HEIGHTS Systems will be updated to reflect the new policy beginning October 1, 2023.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Food Stamp Manual Topics

Section 245.03            Criteria for Exemption from ABAWD Work Requirements

IMPLEMENTATION

The policy released in this SR is effective from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024, based upon FNS’ approval to amend and extend waiver number 00006279 submitted pursuant to 7 CFR 273.24(f). Inform ABAWDS of any changes in their exemption status at the next client interaction.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Eligibility workers must verbally notify clients living in the impacted towns of the ABAWD exemption as appropriate at the next client interaction.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the Online Manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for BFA policy releases. This SR, and revised Online Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the Online Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sr_htm/sr.htm, effective October 2, 2023.

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