The federal government has granted California’s request for an extension of its waiver of the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependant Children (ABAWD) time limit. The ABAWD rule limits receipt of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (CalFresh in California) by non-disabled adults without children to three months every three years unless they are meeting certain work requirements. Areas, including entire states, can request waiver of the ABAWD rule if their average unemployment rate is 20 percent over the national average for a recent 36 month period. California’s ABAWD waiver is now extended until December 31, 2017.
The result of the waiver is that there continues to be no time limit for receiving CalFresh benefits in California and participation on CalFresh Employment and Training Program is voluntary until January 1, 2018. ACIN I-11-16 (February 2, 2016).