What is an ABAWD?
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In other words, someone between the ages of 18 and 49 who is not the primary caregiver for a child, elderly, or disabled person. The federal government assumes that anyone in this category is capable of getting and keeping a part-time job, therefore ABAWDs in need of food assistance must either work, volunteer, or be enrolled in a work training program for a minimum of 80 hours per month to receive SNAP/CalFresh food assistance. If these requirements aren’t met, a person can only receive federal food assistance for three months within a three-year period.
This seems reasonable, doesn’t it?
However, circumstances are rarely this simple. Being a certain age and not having dependents doesn’t necessarily mean a person is able to work readily or easily, even if they deeply desire employment. While there are certain exemptions, such as having a disability, they don’t cover everyone who might be considered an ABAWD by law but isn’t able to work.
Let’s take a closer look at a person who might be considered an ABAWD, but legitimately can’t find or maintain employment long enough to qualify for federal food assistance.
Meet George. George is 27 years old, has no children, and rents an unconventional studio apartment that is a converted garage at a local family’s house. He suffers from an anxiety disorder but is unable to get medically diagnosed because he hasn’t been able to get approved for Medi-Cal and can’t afford a doctor’s visit out-of-pocket. George barely made it through high school. His anxiety worsened when his single mother passed away right after he graduated, and he was unable to make it through his first year at the local community college.
In the years since, George has found work in odd jobs and seasonal employment such as farm work. These work best for him because his anxiety disorder causes him to have days when he is physically unable to leave his home. George wants to work, does work when he is able, but is limited by his own health and the seasonal nature of the jobs for which he is qualified. The sporadic nature of his work means there are times when he is employed full time, times when he is employed less than part time, and times when there is no work available at all.
George’s income is just enough to cover his housing with barely anything leftover for food and other necessities. If it weren’t for the SNAP/CalFresh program there would be times when he wouldn’t have anything to eat at all since the closest food pantry is only open once a month.
George is technically considered an ABAWD. States have been able to help people like George by using special exemptions. The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking those exemptions away in April 2020 through a new rule that will tighten work requirements for ABAWDs.
It’s people like George who will be affected by this rule change. The result, based on studies and real-life examples across the nation, will be increased hunger and decreased productivity amongst a group of people who are already highly motivated to work, people like George.
