ABAWD Exemptions
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This subject includes information about NA Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) exemptions.
Policy
When an NA participant meets an able bodied adult without dependents(g) exemption, the participant is exempt from able bodied adult with dependents (ABAWD) work requirements and three-month time limit.
The entire month does not count towards the three-month time limit when an exemption occurs at any time during a benefit month.
An ABAWD participant could qualify for more than one ABAWD exemption. FAA applies the ABAWD exemption that exempts the participant for the longest time.
The following participants are exempt from the ABAWD work requirement and time limit. FAA applies the exemptions in the following order:
1) Age.
Participants are exempt from ABAWD work requirements when they meet one of the following:
●Under 18 years of age.
The participant is exempt through the month in which they turn 18.
●Age 55 and over.
The participant becomes exempt the month in which they turn 55.
2) Residing with a Minor Child (Under Age 18).
When a participant resides with a minor child, the minor is not required to be eligible for NA benefits but is required to be included in the same budgetary unit. This exemption applies through the month in which the minor turns 18.
3) Mentally or Physically Unfit for Work.
Participants who are medically certified as mentally or physically unfit for work are exempt from the ABAWD time limit and work requirements. Unfit for work can include anything that affects the ability to work, maintain employment, or restricts the range of employment opportunities, including, and not limited to, any of the following:
●Mental conditions.
Learning disability.
Emotional challenge.
Difficulty handling stressful situations or being around people.
Victim of domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
●Physical condition.
Recovering from surgery.
Physical limitations due to a disability.
Receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits from a governmental or private source.
A participant does not need to have a disability to be unfit for work. Unfitness for work may not always be visible. Unfitness for work may be temporary or permanent.
When the participant claims they are unfit for work, additional verification is not required when the unfitness can be verified through any of the following:
●AZTECS interface.
●HEAplus hubs.
●Worker observation when the unfitness for work is obvious.
When the participant claims they are unfit for work, and the unfitness is questionable information, FAA attempts to confirm the participant’s claim based on case file(g) information received and the State Verification Exchange System(g). A participant may be required to provide verification of unfitness from a medically qualified source(g). See Providing Verification for more information about questionable information.
Participants considered temporarily unfit for work are exempt until renewal unless verification is received that specifies an expected end date for the exemption reason.
Participants with a long-term or permanent disability are exempt from the ABAWD work requirements and the ABAWD three-month time limit.
4) Pregnancy.
Participants who are pregnant are exempt from ABAWD work requirements in each trimester of the pregnancy.
See Budgetary Units with Special Circumstances for more information about budgetary units experiencing homelessness.
6) Veterans.
Participants who served in the United States Armed Forces and who were discharged or released, regardless of the conditions of the discharge or release. The United States Armed Forces includes all of the following branches:
●Air Force.
●Army.
●Coast Guard.
●Marine Corps.
●National Guard.
●Navy.
●Space Force.
NOTE This exemption includes participants who served in a reserve component of the Armed Forces.
Participants who were commissioned officers of any of the following uniformed services:
Public Health Service.
Environmental Scientific Services Administration.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
7) Former Foster Care Youth Aged 24 or Under.
Regardless of the time spent in foster care, NA participants aged 24 or under who reached the maximum age while in foster care(g) are exempt. Some foster care agencies' maximum age is 18, while others have a higher maximum age.
NA participants are not required to have remained in extended foster care to qualify for this exemption.
Any of the following provides foster care programs:
●States.
●Districts.
●Territories.
●Indian Tribal Organizations.
●Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program. See Qualified Noncitizens for more information about URM.
8) Exempt from the NA Work Requirements.
Whenever a participant is exempt from the NA work requirements, the participant is exempt from the ABAWD time limit.
See NA Work Requirement Exemptions for exemptions that are applicable for the ABAWD time limit.
9) Geographical.
Participants who reside in a geographically exempt area are exempt from the ABAWD work requirements.
The Geographic Exemption is applied when an ABAWD does not meet any other exemption and is living in an area that is exempt from the ABAWD time limit.
Beginning 10/01/2024, the Geographical Exemption is active for all of the following areas:
●All counties outside of Maricopa County.
●The cities of Apache Junction and Buckeye.
●All American Indian Tribal Land in Arizona.
Discretionary Exemption
Federal regulations allocate the number of discretionary exemptions assigned to a state. The number of discretionary exemptions used by a state cannot exceed 8% of the participants ineligible due to the ABAWD time limit during the previous Federal Fiscal Year. FAA is not currently assigning the ABAWD Discretionary Exemption.
Verification
The participant has the primary responsibility for providing verification. (See Participant Responsibilities – Providing Verification for additional policy.)
Use a participant statement verification unless it is questionable.
When an ABAWD exemption is questionable, examples of acceptable verification for an ABAWD exemption that can be used include, and are not limited to, any of the following:
●Experiencing homelessness.
Proof of homelessness includes, and is not limited to, a written statement or collateral contact completed by a person aware of the participant’s circumstances.
●Veteran.
Proof of veteran status includes, and is not limited to, any of the following:
●Service department records, such as a DD Form 214.
●Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, original Certificate of Discharge.
●Report of Transfer or Discharge, Military ID Card indicating service in the armed forces.
●Correspondence or contact from the Department of Veteran Affairs, including a benefit payment or award letter.
●Veteran Affairs ID Card.
●Correspondence or contact from the Department of Veteran Affairs indicating service in the Armed Forces.
●Driver's license indicating veteran status.
●Foster care youth.
Proof of foster care youth includes, and is not limited to, any of the following:
●Data sharing with other state or federal agencies.
●Collateral contact to other social service workers or agencies, such as the agency administering the foster care program or Medicaid.
●A written statement from, or collateral contact completed, with a person aware of the participant’s circumstances.
●Pregnancy or unfit for work.
Proof of pregnancy or unfitness for work includes, and is not limited to, any of the following:
●Insurance or police reports supporting the claim.
●The Verification of Unfitness for Work for Adults (FAA-1533A) form.
●The Verify Unfit for Work for Adults (A024) notice.
NOTE When a completed A024 notice is in a case file(g), FAA may use the A024 notice as verification when FAA received the completed notice no more than 30 calendar days before an NA application.
●A written statement from, or collateral contact completed, with a person aware of the participant’s circumstances.
●A written statement or collateral contact completed by a medically qualified source(g). The statement is required to include all of the following:
The condition, circumstance, illness, or disability that impedes the participant’s ability to participate in employment or work.
The projected duration of the condition, circumstance, illness, or disability.
When the duration of the condition, circumstance, illness, or disability cannot be determined at the present time, an indication of re-examination and reevaluation needs to be included.
●Proof of receipt of temporary or permanent disability benefits from governmental or private sources, including, and not limited to, one of the following:
VA disability benefits.
Workers Compensation.
SSI (or pending application for SSI).
State-issued temporary or permanent disability benefits.
Participation in a Vocational Rehabilitation program.
Social Security Disability benefits.
Maternity leave or disability leave pay from an employer.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 273.24(b)(1)
7 CFR 273.24(b)(2)
7 CFR 273.24(b)(3)
7 CFR 273.24(c)
7 CFR 273.24(g)
FNS Waiver
last revised 03/10/2025