Able-bodied adults are those who are healthy and have not had a doctor diagnose a disability and who do not have dependent children living in their home.
The Food Stamp Program allows able-bodied adults without dependent children to receive food stamp benefits for 3 months in a period of 36 months without participating in an able-bodied employment or training activity. After the initial three months, an able-bodied adult is required to participate in these activities unless they are exempt from participation.
Effective April 1, 2009, the requirement to participate in an able-bodied employment or training activity after three months has been suspended through September 30, 2010. This means if you are an able-bodied adult you may be eligible to continue to receive food stamp benefits after three months without participating in an able-bodied employment or training activity. However, you must still meet all other eligibility requirements to be eligible for food stamps, including participation in the Employment & Training Program. Once the suspension period is over, you may be required to participate in order to receive food stamp benefits.
