ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY
SNA-1027B FORPD (12-17)
Workforce Development Administration
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Employment and Training (SNA E&T) Program
WORK FOCUS (ABAWD)
The purpose of the SNA E&T Program is to improve the employability of adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) benefits through actual work experience and/or training; helping them to move quickly into employment. It is
designed to place emphasis on financial independence through employment. The guiding principles of the “Work Focus” are:
• People are better off working than receiving SNAP benefits.
• Adults receiving SNAP benefits who can work must work.
• The best way to succeed in the labor market is to enter it.
• Activities should promote employment at the earliest opportunity.
WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR ABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) are limited to three (3) months of SNAP benefits within a 36-month period,
unless they meet the work requirement or a qualifying exemption. ABAWDs can meet the work requirement by:
• Working for 20 hours a week, averaged monthly;
• Participating for 20 hours a week, averaged monthly, in allowable SNA E&T Program activities; or
• Participating for 20 hours a week, averaged monthly, in a program under
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA); or
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Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
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SNA E&T PROGRAM WORK ACTIVITIES FOR ABAWDs
The following work activities may be used in any combination to fulfill the ABAWD work requirement:
• Job Search – an intensive structured activity in which participants are required to actively look for employment.
• Job Readiness – focuses on providing skills to the participant that will prepare them in obtaining and/or maintaining
employment.
• Education and/or Training – which includes:
Vocational Training – designed to improve the employability of participants by providing training in a skill or trade,
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allowing the participant to move directly into employment.
High School Equivalency Diploma – skills taught include, but are not limited to improving written and/or oral
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communication, increasing self-esteem and preparing for the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – participants receive instruction to improve written and/or oral
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communication skills in order to compete in the labor market.
Remedial Education – provides participants with basic literacy skills or other basic education.
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• Work Experience – any unpaid work performed in the public or private sector that is meant to improve or gain skills,
develop good work habits and establish a recent work history of the participant.
• Community Service – unpaid activities in the public or private, non-profit sector that are for the good of the community.
• Registered Apprenticeship- individuals learn how to do a task by performing it on the job and also learn why it is done that
way through related technical instruction.
NOTE: Job Search and Job Readiness are only acceptable when combined with another allowable SNA E&T
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activity, and must be less than half of the 20-hour requirement.
ELIGIBILITY
• ABAWD participants who fail to meet the work requirement will add countable months towards the SNAP time-limit.
• There is no limit on how many times ABAWDs may regain SNAP eligibility, and subsequently maintain eligibility, as long as
they are meeting the work requirement.
For further information please contact the SNA E&T Program Specialist (Name)
at:
Phone Number
Email
Address
See reverse for EOE/ADA/LEP/GINA disclosures