Exemptions from E&T Work Requirements

Exemptions from E&T Work Requirements. The following persons are exempt from SNAP work requirements: A. A person younger than 16 years of age or a person 60 years of age or older. A person age 16 or 17 who is not the head of a household or who is attending school, or is enrolled in an employment training program, on at least a half-time basis, is also exempt. If the person turns 16 (or 18 under the preceding sentence) during a certification period, the agency must register the person as part of the next scheduled recertification process, unless the person qualifies for another exemption. Persons aged 60 or older remain exempt from the general work requirements, and are prohibited from being required to participate in mandatory E&T. B. A person physically or mentally unfit for employment. If a mental or physical unfitness is claimed and the unfitness is not evident, verification will be required. Receipt of disability benefits generally is sufficient evidence of the disability; however, if the payment is issued for a partial or marginal disability, as is sometimes the case with VA benefits, for example, it may mean that the participant would not be suitable for certain types of jobs. C. A person subject to and complying with any work requirement under title IV of the Social Security Act. If the exemption claimed is questionable, the agency is responsible for verifying the exemption. D. A parent or other household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under 6 or an incapacitated person. If the child has his or her 6th birthday during a certification period, the agency must work register the individual responsible for the care of the child as part of the next scheduled recertification process, unless the individual qualifies for another exemption. E. A person receiving unemployment compensation. A person who has applied for, but is not yet receiving, unemployment compensation is also exempt if that person is complying with work requirements that are part of the Federal-State unemployment compensation application process. If the exemption claimed is questionable, the agency is responsible for verifying the exemption with the appropriate Employment Security agency. F. A regular participant in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program. G. An employed or self-employed person working a minimum of 30 hours weekly or earning weekly wages at least equal to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours. This includes migrant and seasonal farm workers under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within 30 days, whereby working 30 hours per week or which produces earnings equivalent to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours. There may be instances when an individual’s hours fluctuate so that, although that individual does work an average of 30 hours per week, he/she may not work 30 hours each and every week. The agency may obtain an average of hours worked over a period of time not to exceed either the length of the certification period or the 12-month work registration period, in order to determine if a household member qualifies for this exemption. An employed or self-employed person who voluntarily and without good cause reduces his or her work effort and, after the reduction, is working less than 30 hours per week, is ineligible to participate in SNAP. H. A student enrolled at least half-time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education. Students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education must meet the student eligibility requirements. A student will remain exempt during normal periods of class attendance, vacation, and recess. If the student graduates, enrolls less than half-time, is suspended or expelled, drops out, or does not intend to register for the next normal school term (excluding summer), the agency must work register the individual, unless the individual qualifies for another exemption.