The 3-Month Rule
Able-bodied, childless adults who are between 18 and 49 years old who do not live in a household with a child or a pregnant woman must work an average of 20 or more hours a week, unless they are exempt from the rule. Otherwise, these adults will receive Food Stamps for only 3 months during a 3-year period. Months during which persons subject to the 3-month rule meet the work requirement while receiving Food Stamps DO NOT count toward the 3-month limit.
Good Cause
If you work at a job, you may have a month when you have “good cause” for not meeting the work requirement. If you have good cause, that month should not count toward your 3-month limit. Examples of “good cause” include illness, a death in the family, lack of transportation, or lack of work. Be sure to tell your caseworker about your reason.
Three Ways to Keep Your Food Stamps
Even if you are not working an average of 20 hours per week, there are three different ways you can keep your Food Stamps going, or start them up again.
1) Be Exempt from the Rule
The “3-Month Rule” should not apply to you if you are:
· In a Food Stamp group with a child under age 18, OR
· Unable to work because of physical or mental problems, OR
· Disabled or caring for someone who is disabled, OR
· Pregnant, OR
· Applying for or receiving unemployment insurance, OR
· Participating in a substance abuse treatment program, OR
· Trying to escape domestic violence
If you think you should be exempt from the 3-month rule, tell your Food Stamp specialist. If your Food Stamps have already stopped, you should reapply and show why you are exempt.
2) Join the Food Stamp Employment and Training Program.
The Food Stamp Employment and Training (“E&T”) Program provides work and training for adults who are subject to the “3-month rule” in the Food Stamp Program.
Participate in Work Experience
The Food Stamp E&T program can place you in an unpaid, Community Work Experience job. You will have to work the same numbe of hours as your Food Stamp amount divided by the minimum wage. You cannot be required to work without pay for more than this number of hours.
Education and Training
You can use 15 hours of education or training per month to meet your work requirement for Food Stamps. If you are interested in education or training, talk to your Food Stamp Employment and Training worker.
3) Participate in the Community Service Program
You can keep your Food Stamps by participating in a few hours of community service per month. You must volunteer the same number of hours as your Food Stamp benefits divided by the minimum wage. You do not have to volunteer for more hours than this.
Find a volunteer site
You must find an organization where you can volunteer on your own. Your caseworker does not have to help you find a site, but she or he may have a list of places that take volunteers. Your local Voluntary Action Agency, United Way, or Community Action Agency may also know what organizations can use volunteers.
Prove that you volunteer
You will need to prove that you have volunteered for the right number of hours. Ask your caseworker for a form that you can have filled out at your volunteer site. You will need to return this form to DHS by the due date your caseworker gives you.
Volunteer placements must be at a nonprofit or governmental agency, for example:
-hospitals or health clinics
-a community action agency
-a soup kitchen or shelter
-a school or Head Start center
Remember: You must volunteer every month to keep your Food Stamp case open! Information Not Legal Advice. This web site has been prepared for general information purposes only. The information on this web site is not legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation.