PDFWAC 388-444-0030

Are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) subject to additional work requirements and time limits to be eligible for basic food?

(1) An able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) is a person who:
(a) Is age eighteen through forty-nine;
(b) Is fit for work and not exempted under WAC 388-444-0035; and
(c) Does not receive food assistance in an assistance unit (AU) that includes a minor child (we will consider the AU to include a minor child even if the minor child is not eligible to receive food assistance).
(2) If you are an ABAWD, you must participate in work activities under subsection (4) of this section.
(3) Nonexempt ABAWDs who live outside of King County or on the Muckleshoot Tribal Reservation may continue to receive food assistance until December 31, 2019, even if they fail to participate in work-related activities.
(4) A nonexempt ABAWD is not eligible to receive food assistance for more than three full months (which do not have to be consecutive months), not including any partial benefit months in a thirty-six month period, unless the ABAWD:
(a) Works an average of eighty hours per month, including:
(i) Work in exchange for money;
(ii) Work in exchange for goods or services ("in kind" work);
(iii) Unpaid work that is verified according to department requirements; or
(iv) Any combination of (a)(i) through (iii) of this subsection;
(b) Participates in one of the following work programs and is meeting the requirements of that work program:
(i) The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014;
(ii) Section 236 of the Trade Act of 1974;
(iii) A state-approved employment and training program at least an average of eighty hours per month; or
(c) Participates in an unpaid work program as provided in WAC 388-444-0040.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and Title 7 C.F.R. Part 273.24. WSR 19-17-086, § 388-444-0030, filed 8/21/19, effective 9/21/19. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, and 74.08A.120. WSR 18-02-037, § 388-444-0030, filed 12/22/17, effective 1/22/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.120 and see WSR 16-07-003, other authority. WSR 16-07-003, § 388-444-0030, filed 3/3/16, effective 4/3/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.24. WSR 15-18-042, § 388-444-0030, filed 8/26/15, effective 9/26/15; WSR 14-18-028, § 388-444-0030, filed 8/26/14, effective 9/26/14; WSR 13-17-123, § 388-444-0030, filed 8/21/13, effective 9/21/13; WSR 12-16-025, § 388-444-0030, filed 7/25/12, effective 8/25/12; WSR 11-18-039, § 388-444-0030, filed 8/31/11, effective 10/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, 74.08A.903, and 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.7 and 273.24. WSR 10-23-112, § 388-444-0030, filed 11/17/10, effective 12/18/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.120, and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. WSR 10-13-046, § 388-444-0030, filed 6/9/10, effective 7/10/10; WSR 09-14-018, § 388-444-0030, filed 6/22/09, effective 7/23/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-444-0030, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]