“TLR” SNAP Time Limits for Adults (formally ABAWDs)

TLR stands for “Time-Limited Recipient.” It used to be called “Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD).” It is an adult between 18 and 64 years old who is not disabled, not pregnant, not ill, and not living in a household with dependents under the age of 14. People under age 18 or over age 64 are not TLRs. 

If you are a TLR, you can only get 3 months of SNAP (food stamps) in a 36-month period unless you work, go to school, volunteer, or meet an exception. As a TLR, you can volunteer to take part in training programs, including GED, ESL or Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes. 

You must be working or doing volunteer work for 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month. If you are in a workfare program, you may have different hour requirements. Talk to your county worker if you are in a workfare program.

The SNAP 3-month time limit DOES NOT apply if you:

• are under age 18 or over age 64
• are an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act
• can't work 20 hours or more a week because of a physical or mental problem that is expected to last at least 30 days
• are caring for a child under the age of 14 (you do not have to be the child's parent)
• get General Assistance (GA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability (SSDI), or Minnesota Supplemental Assistance (MSA)
• get Unemployment Benefits
• are pregnant
• take care of an ill or disabled person in your household
• are enrolled at least half-time in a recognized school or training program
• are in a drug or alcohol rehab program
• applied for SSI and your application is pending
• get rehabilitative services (DVR)
• get developmentally disabled services (DD)

You can choose which 3 months to get SNAP in the 36-month period (3 years). Any month that you get less than a full month of benefits does not count as one of your months. This can happen if you applied after the 1st of the month or weren’t eligible for some days in the month. If someone in a household loses SNAP because of the time limit, others in the household can still get SNAP.