Food and Nutrition Services - Admin. Letters

DSS ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO. ECONOMIC AND FAMILY SERVICES 7-2008, Continued and Modified 2007 Regional ABAWD Two-Year Waiver (November 13, 2008)

(Food and Nutrition Services)

TO:	County Directors of Social Services
ATTENTION:	Food and Nutrition Services Supervisors
DATE:	November 13, 2008
RE:	Continued and Modified ABAWD Exemption
EFFECTIVE
DATE:	December 1, 2008

I. BACKGROUND

In 2006 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a waiver request to exempt Able Bodied Adults without Dependents (ABAWDs) from the three-month time limit in several counties. The waiver was effective December 1, 2006, through November 30, 2008, and is called the 2007 Regional ABAWD Two-Year waiver.

An extension and modification of the Extended Benefits (EB) waiver has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture. The Extended Benefits waiver is a statewide waiver that is in effect December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009. The 3-month time-limit for ABAWDS is waived for residents of the entire State of North Carolina based on insufficient jobs.

II. POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Households containing an ABAWD can continue to be certified longer than three months while under the EB waiver. Work registration requirements are still applicable under the EB waiver, and Employment and Training (E&T) requirements and sanctions for non-compliance continue to apply.

III. IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS

Effective December 1, 2008, enter code 13 in the work registration field (80E) for newly eligible ABAWDs. Enter code Z in field 80K to track the ABAWD. At each application, recertification, and change in situation, evaluate each potential ABAWD. Determine eligibility as appropriate; enter code 13 in the work registration field (80E). Use an ABAWD tracking form to document the waiver months.

At each application, recertification, and change in situation, if there is an ABAWD whose dependent relationship code is J (ineligible ABAWD), add the ABAWD back to the Food and Nutrition Services case after verifying all other eligibility factors. Change the dependent relationship code (field 80K) to Z, and enter code 13 in the work registration field (80E). Re-register the ABAWD with the Employment Security Commission using the DSS-2624 or refer the ABAWD to Career Start, if appropriate.

January 2009 through December 2011 starts a new thirty-six month period for ABAWD eligibility. Use an ABAWD tracking chart to document and track the new 36-month period.

If you have any questions concerning the policy contained in this letter, please contact your Food and Nutrition Services & Energy Representative.

Sincerely,



Dean Simpson, Chief
Economic and Family Services

DL/tb