SR 18-19 Dated 06/18

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION – DIVISION OF ECONOMIC AND HOUSING STABILITY (DEHS)

 

FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, DEHS:

Mark Jewell

DEHS SIGNATURE DATE:

June 14, 2018

AT (OFFICE):

Division of Economic and Housing Stability (DEHS)

TO:

District Office Supervisors

SUBJECT:

36 Month Able Bodied Adults Without Dependent (ABAWD) Eligibility Period Does not Restart if the Individual is not Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Upon Receipt

 

SUMMARY

 

This SR releases clarification that the 36 Month Able Bodied Adult Without Dependent (ABAWD) Eligibility does not restart after a prior 36 month eligibility period ends if the ABAWD is not receiving SNAP benefits.

 

POLICY

 

36 Month Period

ABAWDs who do not meet ABAWD work requirements may only receive SNAP benefits for 3 months out a 36 month eligibility period. The 36 month eligibility period for ABAWDs begins with the ABAWD’s first month of eligibility for SNAP benefits.

 

●

Once the 36-month eligibility period starts, the count to 36 months will continue whether or not the ABAWD receives SNAP benefits.

●

If an ABAWD is receiving SNAP benefits when the 36 month eligibility period ends, a new 36-month period begins the first month after the previous 36 month period ends.

●

If an ABAWD is not receiving SNAP benefits when the 36 month eligibility period ends a new 36 month period will not begin until the ABAWD begins receiving SNAP benefits again. The new 36 month period would begin the first month in which the ABAWD begins receiving SNAP benefits again.

 

Example 1: An ABAWD first receives SNAP benefits January 2013 and continues to receive SNAP benefits. The 36 month period begins January 2013 and ends December 31, 2015. A new 36 month period begins January 2016 since the ABAWD is continuing to receive SNAP benefits

 

Example 2: An ABAWD first receives SNAP benefits in January 2013. The ABAWD’s SNAP benefits close in April 2013. The ABAWD never reopens for SNAP. The 36 month period ends December 31, 2015. A new 36 month period does not begin because the ABAWD is not receiving SNAP benefits.

 

3 Month Period

The 3-month period is the number of months within a 36-month period that a non-exempt ABAWD individual may receive SNAP benefits while not fulfilling ABAWD work requirements. The 3 month period is reset when an ABAWD enters a new 36 month period. This can result in an ABAWD having two back to back 3 month periods. For example if an ABAWD’s 36 month period ends after December 2015, and the ABAWD is meeting ABAWD work requirements until October 2015, the ABAWD’s first 3 month period would begin October 2015 and a new 3 month period would begin on January 2016 because the ABAWD begins a new 36 month period.

 

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

 

Currently New HEIGHTS does not restart ABAWD clocks when an ABAWD’s clock expires and the ABAWD is receiving SNAP benefits. Workers must manually restart a new ABAWD clock when an ABAWD’s current clock expires and the ABAWD is receiving SNAP benefits. Beginning September 4, New HEIGHTS will implement a system that will automatically restart the ABAWD clock when an ABAWD clock expires and the ABAWD is receiving SNAP benefits.

 

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

 

Revised Food Stamp Manual Topics

 

Section 245.07 Determining the 36 Month and 3 Month Periods of Eligibility

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

The policy in this SR is effective upon receipt.

 

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 On-line manuals.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for BFA policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/publications.htm, effective July 30. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Food Stamp Manual.

 

BFA/BDC:s