ABAWD FAQs Has the program been a success in the 9 pilot counties? Our best data does not indicate that the program has had a significant impact on employment figures for the ABAWD population in the 9 issuance-limited counties. While we have reduced the SNAP caseload by approximately 5,417 across the nine counties since the ABAWD restrictions were put in place, we do not see a clear increase in the number of ABAWDs maintaining benefits due to meeting the work requirements during that same time frame. The percentage of working ABAWDs proportional to the total SNAP population has held steady since the work requirements were put into place. We made approximately 13,984 referrals to the SNAP E&T program during calendar year 2016. Of these, 259 gained employment while participating in the program. Do you need this legislation to implement the ABAWD restrictions statewide? We do not need legislation to implement ABAWD work requirements statewide. The current waiver of ABAWD requirements for 46 of WV’s 55 counties is part of the Bureau’s annual applications to USDAFNS. With FNS approval, the waiver can be relaxed independent of any state legislation. What happens to the SNAP dollars saved through removing these ABAWDs from the SNAP rolls? SNAP benefit payments to WV citizens are reimbursed by the Federal Government to WV’s Electronic Benefits Transfer vendor (currently JP Morgan Chase). Benefits not paid out do not go into a pool that can be used for other cases or other purposes; these are simply Federal dollars that will no longer be circulating in the WV economy. What is the estimated dollar amount of SNAP benefits that would be withheld due to the implementation of ABAWD work requirements statewide? Based on our estimate of 7,310 non-exempt ABAWDs statewide and an average benefit amount of $203.20, the estimated impact would be $17,824,704.00 fewer federal SNAP dollars circulating in WV’s economy. pg. 1 of 1 03/02/2017rkn