1.
Identifying Needs
of ABAWDs Losing
SNAP Benefits
June 7th, 2016
By: Alma Akras, Cheyenne Stolmeier, Cassi
Flint, Hazel Oida, Molly Dubow, Erika Torres,
Sarah Johansen

2. Summary of Changes to SNAP (Basic Food benefits): ABAWD Time Limit and
Work Requirements
What is the issue?
Due to recent changes in Basic Food benefits eligibility requirements for Able­Bodied Adults
without Dependents (ABAWDs), between 500,000 and 1 million of the poorest people across
the United States may lose their food benefits.
1
What change happened?
Most states and counties across the United States waive the work requirement for individuals
applying for SNAP benefits when unemployment rates are high. Because unemployment rates
in Washington state have been high the last few years, residents have been temporarily exempt
from meeting certain work requirements to qualify for the SNAP program. The temporary
suspension of this work requirement is known as the ABAWD time limit waiver.
2
On January 1, 2016, Washington state, along with 21 other states, reintroduced a time limit on
SNAP benefits and eliminated the work exemption waiver, meaning that ABAWDs— adults
aged 18­49 who are not disabled and who do not have any dependents and is not pregnant—
who receive SNAP benefits will only receive three full months of food stamps if they do not
meet the work requirements.​1
Eligible ABAWDs receiving Basic Food who do not meet the work requirements for three full
months will lose their benefits at the end of the third month. If they meet the work
requirements again or become exempt at any time after they lose their benefits, they can
regain benefits for an additional three months.​2
Who will it effect?
Nationwide, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million individuals will be affected by the changes,
according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.​1​
This group of individuals who will lose
their monthly food benefits are diverse: 40 percent are female; almost one­third are over the
age of 40; 40 percent live in suburban areas.​1​
Over 80 percent have incomes below half the
poverty line, which is currently $5885.​1
1 Bolen, E., Rosenbaum, D., Dean, S., & Keith­Jennings, B. (2016). ​At Least 500,000 Childless
Adults Will Lose SNAP Benefits in 2016 | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities​ . ​Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from
http://www.cbpp.org/at­least­500000­childless­adults­will­lose­snap­benefits­in­2016
2 Sanchez, M. (2015). ​ABAWD Waiver: Basic Food Changes in 2016​ . ​WithinReach WA​ . Retrieved
7 May 2016, from http://www.withinreachwa.org/tag/abawd­waiver/

3. There are an estimated 35,000 ABAWDs in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties who could be
affected by the time limit if they are not able to meet the work requirements (see below).
3
According to Luanne Serafin, an attorney for the Northwest Justice Project, approximately
16,000 ABAWDs are at risk in King, Snohomish, and Pierce County for losing their benefits. Even
if these individuals are actively looking for work but are unsuccessful, they face their Basic Food
benefits being cut.​1
The loss will be an approximately $150 and $170 per month, which may cause serious hardship
as the average income of Basic Food beneficiaries is just $2000 annually.​1
In addition to Washington state, there are 39 other states who have imposed the ABAWD time
limit. In NYC, an estimated 53,000 individuals will lose their food benefits due to the ABAWD
time limit: The ​Food Bank For New York City reports​ that the time limit is likely to “result in the
loss of approximately 31 million meals over the course of a year.”
4
What are the work requirements?
To receive Basic Food benefits, ABAWDs must complete one of the following:
5
● Work at least twenty hours per week, averaged monthly (work includes work for pay
and work for goods or services)
● Volunteer for at least 16 hours at a Workfare organization.
● Participate in Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) or another state­approved
employment or training program.
● In King and Pierce Counties, participate in Resource to Initiate Successful Employment.
Are there exemptions?
Individuals in King, Snohomish, and parts of Pierce County (not Tacoma or Lakewood) can
receive exemptions from the ABAWD work requirements if they:
6
● Are not physically or mentally able to work
● Are homeless
● Care for a disabled person
● Participate in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program
● Receive disability benefits (SSI, SSDI, ABD, Worker Comp, etc.)
● Have applied for or receive unemployment benefits
3 Bernstein, J. (2015). ​Washington Is About to Make It Harder for Thousands of People to Get
Food Stamps. I’m One. ​Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 7 May 2016, from
http://www.seattleweekly.com/home/961533­129/washington­is­about­to­make­it
4 Food Bank for New York City. (2016). NYC. Retrieved from
http://www.foodbanknyc.org/files//dmfile/2016_Conference_Capacity_Brief.pdf
5 Wash Admin. Code §§ 388­444­0030 (2016)
6 Wash Admin. Code §§ 388­444­0035 (2016)

4. ● Are a student enrolled at least half­time in an accredited school
● Are pregnant
● Participate in an employment and training program for TANF
Individuals may also claim “good cause” if they do not meet the work or volunteer
requirements due to “reasons beyond their control” (i.e. illness, transportation issues,
inclement weather, etc.)​4
Action against ABAWD time limits
Washington State Representative has introduced a bill in the House—H.R. 1025—which would
exempt individuals from work requirements if they are not offered a position in a state job
training or workfare program. ​
(The companion bill—S. 2420—was introduced in Senate.)​ 7​
Both
7
bills are currently sitting in committee.
Organizations like WithinReach and Northwest Justice Project have created hotlines and
published information guides to facilitate a smooth transition for individuals who lose their
benefits.​2,
8
Recommendations
1) We propose United Way King County to connect ABAWDs with organizations to complete the
required workfare hours to retain SNAP benefits.
● By creating workfare site partnerships, individuals that are unable to be exempt from the
policy can meet the eligibility requirements fairly quickly through service work.
○ Examples: Seattle Parks and Recreation, Adopt­A­Street, food banks, community
centers etc.
2) United Way King County can serve the ABAWD population by connecting them to
established job training programs.
● Many unemployed ABAWDs lack the skills to be competitive applicants in the workforce,
despite the lowered unemployment rate. UWKC will serve as the bridge between
ABAWDS and job training programs that can provide the skills necessary to match the
needs of the labor market, as this will be crucial for long­term job stability and continued
SNAP eligibility.
● A variety of job training programs already exist but searching and enrolling for a fitting
job training program can be a confusing and strenuous task. This recommendation
requires United Way King County to recruit individuals that will be trained on the various
7 H.R. 1045 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th­congress/house­bill/1025
8 https://www.nwjustice.org

5. job training programs available and how to match ABAWDs with a job training program
that aligns with their needs and wants. Since ABAWDs will most likely be familiar with
DSHS from their initial enrollment in SNAP, the trained personnel should be placed at
DSHS offices throughout King County.
3) United Way King County can aid DSHS in having ABAWDs self­identify if he/she can be
exempt from the policy.
● DSHS has faced an overwhelming demand from ABAWDs since the enactment of this
policy, especially in trying to get as many ABAWDs exempt as the quota allows. To
alleviate this burden, UWKC representatives at DSHS sites could encourage and assist
ABAWDs to self­identify if they can be exempt from the policy. ABAWDs that may
potentially be exempt can retrieve and submit the necessary exemption request
paperwork to DSHS.