New two year waiver of ABAWD rule

The United States Department of Agriculture has approved a new statewide waiver for California of the CalFresh Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit.

The ABAWD rule limits CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 50 with no children and who are not disabled to three months of CalFresh benefits every three years. The new ABAWD waiver is effective from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2024.

Counties must continue to 1) Identify ABAWDs, screen for exemptions, and inform clients of ABAWD rules; 2) provide an information notice about the ABAWS rules, and 3) track and report work registrant, ABAWD, and Employment and Training data.  (ACL 22-103, December 16, 2022.)