NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
April 10, 2006

IM #4981

TO:		County Social Service Directors
Economic Assistance Policy Regional Representatives
Economic Assistance Policy Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Blaine Nordwall, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	ABAWD Waivers

PROGRAMS:	Food Stamp Program

RETENTION: 	Until Manualized

MANUAL REFERENCE: 430-05-40-50-10

Effective May 1, 2006 a waiver to exempt Eddy, Emmons, Kidder, McHenry, McLean, Pembina, Pierce, Sheridan, Sioux and Towner Counties from the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) provisions has been approved for a two-year period.  Benson and Rolette Counties continue to be exempt.  The new waiver expires April 30, 2008.  

For exempt counties effective May 1, 2006 when processing recertification applications and ongoing cases for the benefit month of June 2006, TECS will default the code on ABRE for all individuals to “EX”. An informational edit will appear on the ABRE screen “county exempt from ABAWDS requirement” and it will not allow the entry of any coding on this screen for any case in the above counties.  The ABAWD provisions do not apply to any individual residing in any of these counties effective May 1, 2006.  

Individuals initially applying in the exempt counties on May 1, 2006 are exempt from the ABAWD provisions. 

Mountrail County will continue to be exempt from the ABAWD provisions using the State 15% exemption criteria allowed by federal regulation. The “SP” code must be entered on the ABRE screen for any able-bodied adult without dependents that is not otherwise exempt in Mountrail County.  This code must be used, as we are required to report the total number of exemptions used on a quarterly basis. 
 
If you have questions, please contact your Regional Representative.