ABAWD Time Limit

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 limited the receipt of SNAP benefits, known as CalFresh in California, to three full months in a 36-month period for ABAWDs subject to the time limit.

ABAWDs can only get CalFresh for three months in 36 months if they do not meet certain work requirements or are not exempt. This is called the time limit.

To be eligible beyond the time limit, an ABAWD must work at least 80 hours per month, participate in qualifying education and training activities at least 80 hours per month, or comply with a workfare program. Workfare means that ABAWDs can do unpaid work through an approved program. For workfare, the amount of required work hours depends on the amount of benefits the CalFresh household received each month.

The time limit does not apply to people who are unable to work due to physical or mental health reasons, are pregnant, care for a child or incapacitated family member, or are exempt from the general work requirements.

Refer to Work Registration Requirements.

The Return of the ABAWD Time Limit

The time limit on ABAWDs is a longstanding provision in the federal law that governs CalFresh. It has been in effect since 1996. Under the law, States can request to temporarily waive the ABAWD time limit when unemployment is high or when there are not enough jobs available.

Due to the economic downturn, California qualified for and chose to waive ABAWD time limits statewide. While some parts of the country still have waivers in place, most states no longer qualify unless they experience high unemployment or insufficient job availability.The ABAWD time limit waiver for Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties ended on August 31, 2018. However, the ABAWD time limit rule was suspended nationwide due to COVID-19 beginning April 1, 2020.

California was subsequently approved for a statewide ABAWD waiver from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. This waiver was renewed from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, based on the state’s unemployment rate, and later extended through October 31, 2025.

A new one-year statewide ABAWD time limit waiver is in effect from February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026.

The 36-Month Period

California has implemented a 36-month “fixed statewide clock.” Under the “fixed statewide clock” option, the 36-month period has the same beginning and end date in all 58 counties for all ABAWDs. Therefore, regardless of when an ABAWD applies for CalFresh, they will have the same 36-month- period.

The first fixed statewide clock began on January 1, 2017, and will end on December 31, 2019. A new fixed statewide clock will begin on January 1, 2020.