The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has informed counties that the United States Department of Agriculture rescinded California’s two-year waiver of the CalFresh Able Bodied Adults Without Dependants (ABAWD) requirements. In its place, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a new one year waiver of the ABAWD requirements that expires on January 31, 2026.
The ABAWD rule is that CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18 and 54 with no children and who is not disabled, are limited to three months of CalFresh benefits every three years unless they are working at least 20 hours per week or 8 hours per month.
Regardless of the status of the waiver, counties must: identify ABAWDs, screen for exemptions, inform participants of the ABAWD and work rules, and track and report work registrant, ABAWD, and Employment and Training data. (ACL 25-41, June 13, 2025.)