Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)
All towns in Connecticut now follow special SNAP work rules for adults. Please use this SNAP Work Rules Pre-screener to understand if these new rules apply to you.
How do you know if you have to follow the SNAP work rules
You have to follow the SNAP work rules for Abled-Bodied Adults, or ABAWDs, if you are 18 through 64 years of age, are able to work, and are not living with a child under the age of 14. For example:
- You are an ABAWD the month after you turn 18.
- You are not an ABAWD the month you turn 65.
Time limits for ABAWDs
People who are ABAWDs usually have a time limit on SNAP. As an ABAWD you are allowed to receive SNAP benefits for only 3 months during a 3-year period. This is known as the ABAWD time limit.
The ABAWD time limit does not apply if you:
- meet the ABAWD work rules, or
- are exempt from the ABAWD time limit
SNAP Work Rules Pre-screener
Do You Need Help Finding a Job, Job Training, or Volunteer Work?
If you are interested in training for a job, you can ask about our free SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Program. SNAP E&T can help you gain skills to find work and become more independent.
American Job Centers can help you find a job at no cost to you. Their team can help you figure out which jobs fit you best, write cover letters, create a resume, and teach you how to search for jobs.
Local Community Action Agencies, 2-1-1, and the United Way are here to help. They can assist you with searching for a job or finding volunteer work.
Contact Us
There are several ways you can contact us to let us know if you are meeting the work rules or if you think you are exempt. If we need proof from you, we will ask for it. You can contact us by phone at our Benefit Center. You can also upload documents to MyDSS, or mail documents to the DSS Scanning Center at P.O. Box 1320, Manchester, CT 06045-1320. If you want, you can even stop into one of our 12 local Resource Centers, and a worker will be happy to assist you.