ABAWD Subject to Time Limit

An ABAWD time limit applies to individuals who meet all of the following criteria. He/she is:

• Age 18 through 64;
• Able to work;
• Not disabled;
• Not pregnant;
• Not working at least 20 hours per week;
• Not a member of a CalFresh household, which includes a child under 14 years of age. (The child may be an excluded CalFresh household member.); and
• Not already exempt from general CalFresh work requirement (A mandatory CalFresh work registrant)      

Note:  Individuals who are under 18 or over 54 64 years of age are not ABAWDs and are, therefore, not subject to the time limit. An individual is an ABAWD beginning the month after their 18th birthday. If the ABAWD is not otherwise exempt beginning the month after their 18th birthday, they will be subject to the ABAWD time limit. An individual is no longer an ABAWD beginning the first day of the month of their 65th birthday. Verification is not required as this information is known to the county. 

Important: For applications and recertifications dated prior to June 1, 2026, the ABAWD age range is 18–54, and the child exemption applies to households with a child under age 18.

At-Risk ABAWDs

At-risk ABAWDs are those who are in their third countable month and are at risk of losing their CalFresh eligibility due to the time limit. ABAWDs who are exempt or satisfy the work requirement are not considered “at risk.”