Section 121.18  Work Requirement

a)         An individual is restricted to three months of eligibility for SNAP benefits during a 36-month period unless the individual meets the work requirement, or is exempt from meeting the work requirement, or the State is operating under an applicable federal waiver.  The 36-month period is a fixed time period established by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service for the entire State.

b)         An individual meets the work requirement by working an average of 20 hours per week, or by participating 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 substance use disorder 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 7 U.S.C. 2015 (o)(4)(A)(i) and (ii)).

d)         An individual who has been denied eligibility because that individual 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 47 Ill. Reg. 1007, effective January 6, 2023)