Section 121.18  Work Requirement

a)         An individual is restricted to three months of eligibility for food stamps during a 36-month period unless he or she meets the work requirement or he or she is exempt from meeting the work requirement.  The 36-month period is a fixed time period for the entire State.  The fixed time period ends 12/31/2002, at which time the next 36-month fixed time period begins.  The work requirement does not apply for calendar year 2000.

b)         An individual meets the work requirement if he or she works an average of 20 hours per week or he or she participates in workfare for the required number of hours. 

c)         An individual is exempt from meeting the work requirement if the individual is:

1)         under age 18 or over age 50;

2)         medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment;

3)         pregnant;

4)         a student enrolled at least half time;

5)         a member of a household responsible for a dependent child;

6)         responsible for the care of an incapacitated person;

7)         participating in a drug addiction or alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation program;

8)         receiving weekly earnings of at least the federal minimum wage times 30 hours;

9)         receiving Unemployment Insurance; or

10)         residing in an area which is exempt from this requirement (see Section 824(a)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996).

d)         An individual who has been denied eligibility because he or she does not meet the work requirement may qualify for three additional months of eligibility for food stamps in the 36-month period.  To qualify for the three additional months of eligibility for food stamps, during a 30-day period the individual must:

1)         work 80 or more hours; or

2)         participate in and comply with workfare.

(Source:  Amended at 24 Ill. Reg. 4180, effective March 2, 2000)