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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
3(SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to low-income individuals
4and families; and
 
5    WHEREAS, While SNAP is intended to ensure that no one
6should fear going hungry, it also reflects the importance of
7work and responsibility; and
 
8    WHEREAS, SNAP rules require all recipients meet work
9requirements unless they are exempt because of age or
10disability; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Some of these working individuals are ABAWDs or
12able-bodied adults without dependents, who must meet work
13requirements to maintain SNAP eligibility; and
 
14    WHEREAS, ABAWDs can only receive SNAP benefits for three
15months in three years if they do not meet the work requirement,
16which requires an ABAWD to work at least 80 hours per month,
17participate in qualifying education and training activities 80
18hours a month, or comply with a workforce program; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The three-month time limit on ABAWDs is part of
20the law that governs the operation of SNAP and has been in

 

 

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1effect since 1996; and
 
2    WHEREAS, States can apply for a waiver from the three-month
3time limit, which would allow ABAWDs to be eligible for SNAP
4without meeting the ABAWD work requirement; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Several other states, including Maine, Georgia,
6and Alabama have chosen not to seek an ABAWD time limit work
7waiver from the federal government, and as a result have seen a
8decrease in SNAP participation; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
10HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11reinstating the work requirement for ABAWDs in Illinois will
12encourage work-ready adults to be self reliant and independent;
13and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That we encourage the Department of Human
15Services to let Illinois' federal time limit waiver expire and
16not seek another waiver, so that ABAWDs will actively meet
17employment or education requirements, boosting our state's
18economy and saving our state money with fewer Illinoisans
19reliant on SNAP benefits.