PDFWAC 388-444-0045

How does an ABAWD regain eligibility for basic food after the three-month limit?

(1) If you have received three months of benefits as an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) and are not eligible due to nonparticipation in the work requirements of WAC 388-444-0030, you may regain eligibility after reapplying for basic food by:
(a) Working eighty hours or more during a thirty-day period;
(b) Participating in and meeting the requirements of a work program as outlined in WAC 388-444-0030 for eighty hours or more during a thirty-day period;
(c) Participating in and meeting the requirements of the community service part of a workfare program;
(d) Meeting any of the work requirements in (a) through (c) of this subsection in the thirty days after the date you have reapplied for basic food; or
(e) Meeting an exemption as outlined in WAC 388-444-0035.
(2) If you regain eligibility for food assistance under subsection (1) of this section, you are eligible for basic food from:
(a) The date you reapplied for basic food if you requalify by participating in the workfare program; or
(b) The date of reapplication or the date you complete the required number of participation hours in a work or work-like activity, whichever is later.
(3) If you meet all other requirements for basic food and you have regained eligibility under subsection (1) of this section, you will receive an additional three consecutive months of basic food benefits that we start counting when you:
(a) Lose employment;
(b) Stop participating in a work or workfare program; or
(c) Stop qualifying for an exemption and you are not participating in work requirements.
(4) We only allow the additional three months of basic food once in each thirty-six month period under subsection (1) of this section.
[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, § 388-444-0045, filed 12/22/17, effective 1/22/18. 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, § 388-444-0045, filed 11/17/10, effective 12/18/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. WSR 99-07-024, § 388-444-0045, filed 3/10/99, effective 4/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-444-0045, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]