If you get SNAP benefits and you’re between 18 and 64, you may now need to prove you’re working, training, or volunteering to keep your benefits past three months.
That’s the short version of what changed under a 2025 federal law that expanded SNAP’s work rules starting in 2026.
Here’s the direct answer: SNAP has two separate work rules. General work requirements apply to most recipients ages 16–59. A stricter rule — called the ABAWD time limit — now applies to “able-bodied adults without dependents” ages 18–64, up from the old cutoff of 54.
If you fall into that expanded group and don’t meet an exemption, you can only get SNAP for 3 months in any 36-month period unless you document 80 hours a month of work, training, or volunteering.
One thing to know up front: this isn’t rolling out on the same date everywhere.
The law itself took effect July 4, 2025, but individual states have been implementing the ABAWD changes on their own timelines — New York started March 2026, Washington D.C. started May 2026, and other states and even specific counties have their own start dates.
Your state SNAP agency or caseworker will tell you your personal “countable months” and when they started. If you’re unsure which rules apply to your case, contact your state or county SNAP office directly, since your exact requirements can depend on your household, your local area’s unemployment rate, and your state’s rollout schedule.
Article Summary
- ABAWD work requirements now cover ages 18–64 (previously 18–54), following a 2025 federal law.
- You generally need 80 hours a month of work, job training, or volunteering to keep SNAP past 3 months in 3 years if you’re a non-exempt ABAWD.
- Exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth were removed — those groups are no longer automatically exempt.
- The caregiver exemption now only covers parents/caretakers of a child under 14 (it used to cover any child under 18).
- States can only get ABAWD waivers for areas with unemployment above 10%, so waivers are much harder to get in 2026.
- Rollout dates vary by state — check with your local SNAP office for your exact start date and countable months.
What Are SNAP Work Requirements?
SNAP has two different sets of work rules, and it’s easy to mix them up.
General work requirements apply to most SNAP recipients ages 16 to 59. These are fairly light — register for work, don’t turn down a suitable job, and take part in job training if your state asks you to.
ABAWD requirements are stricter. They apply to “able-bodied adults without dependents” — and as of the 2025 law, that now means adults ages 18 through 64. If you’re an ABAWD and don’t qualify for an exemption, you must complete 80 hours a month of qualifying activity, or you lose benefits after 3 months in a 36-month period.
The table below breaks down the difference.
| General Work Requirements | ABAWD Work Requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Most recipients ages 16–59 | Able-bodied adults without dependents, ages 18–64 |
| What’s required | Register for work, accept suitable job offers, attend E&T if referred | 80 hours/month of work, training, volunteering, or workfare |
| Penalty for not complying | Loss of benefits for you (household may still qualify) | Loss of benefits after 3 months in 36 months |
| Changed in 2025 law? | No | Yes — age range expanded, exemptions narrowed |
What Changed Under the 2025 Law
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, made the biggest changes to SNAP work rules in years. According to USDA’s implementation guidance, the law raised the ABAWD age ceiling and tightened who qualifies for exemptions.
Age range expanded to 18–64
Before this law, ABAWD rules applied to adults ages 18 to 54. USDA’s guidance confirms the age band now runs through 64, meaning adults ages 55–64 who were previously exempt because of their age must now meet the same 80-hour-a-month standard as younger adults, unless another exemption applies.
Caregiver exemption narrowed
The exemption for parents and caretakers used to cover anyone responsible for a child under 18. USDA’s guidance says that exemption now only applies to a household member responsible for a child under 14. If your youngest child turns 14, you may become subject to ABAWD rules unless you qualify a different way.
Exemptions removed for veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth
These groups had temporary ABAWD exemptions added by a 2023 law. USDA’s guidance confirms the 2025 law eliminated those exemptions, so veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are again subject to the time limit unless they qualify for a different exemption (for example, being under 18, medically unfit for work, or a caretaker of a young child).
Waivers are harder to get
States used to be able to request ABAWD time-limit waivers for areas with high unemployment or a lack of sufficient jobs. The law removed the “insufficient jobs” basis entirely. Now a waiver requires an area unemployment rate above 10% — a high bar that makes waivers far less common in 2026 than in past years.
The 80-Hour Rule: What Counts
If you’re a non-exempt ABAWD, you need 80 hours a month of one or a combination of these:
- Paid work — roughly 20 hours a week
- SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program participation
- Unpaid work or approved volunteering, verified by the host organization
- Workfare, if your state assigns hours based on your benefit amount
- Any combination of the above adding up to 80 hours
There’s also a separate income-based exemption from the general work requirement: if you already work at least 30 hours a week, or earn at least the equivalent of 30 hours at the federal minimum wage (about $217.50 a week), you generally don’t need to separately register for work.
Who’s Still Exempt From ABAWD Rules in 2026
You may still be excused from the ABAWD time limit if you fit one of these categories:
- Under 18 or 65 and older
- Medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for work
- Pregnant, at any stage
- Responsible for a household member under age 14
- Caring for an incapacitated person
- Formerly in foster care and 24 or younger, if you were in foster care on your 18th birthday
- A member of certain federally recognized, state-recognized, or historically affected Native American or Indian communities, per USDA’s updated exception categories
- Already meeting a general work requirements exemption (this doesn’t apply if you’re 60–64)
If you think you qualify for an exemption, don’t wait for your state agency to figure it out — proactively send in documentation (medical form, proof of caregiving, proof of pregnancy, etc.) before your countable months run out.
When Did These Rules Start? It Depends on Your State
This is the part a lot of people get wrong: there’s no single nationwide start date for enforcement. The law’s provisions became effective July 4, 2025, but actually screening and enforcing the new ABAWD rules has rolled out state by state — sometimes county by county — through 2026.
Examples of confirmed state rollout dates:
- New York: ABAWD rule changes began March 1, 2026, for all counties, per New York State OTDA guidance.
- Rhode Island: New ABAWDs began having countable months as of March 2026, per Rhode Island DHS.
- Washington D.C.: D.C.’s SNAP work requirement enforcement began May 1, 2026, with screening tools rolled out in late April 2026.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: Reporting indicates a temporary waiver was in place through 2025 due to high local unemployment, with enforcement changes following in early 2026.
Some states have also kept partial waivers for specific high-unemployment cities or counties even after the statewide rules took effect elsewhere. Because of this, the single most reliable way to know your status is to check directly with your state or county SNAP agency, not a national news report or a general guide like this one.
How to Check Your Exact Requirements
- Log in to your state’s SNAP portal or benefits account. Most states show your “countable months” and any notices about work requirements directly in your case file.
- Watch your mail (and don’t throw notices away). States are sending specific notices to newly affected ABAWDs — some of these have follow-up notices with corrected dates, so hang onto everything.
- Call your local SNAP or Department of Social Services office. Ask specifically: “Am I classified as an ABAWD, and what is my first countable month?”
- Ask about exemptions before you lose benefits, not after. If you have a qualifying condition or caregiving role, submit proof as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the SNAP work requirement now apply to people up to age 64?
Yes. USDA’s 2025 implementation guidance confirms the ABAWD time limit now applies to adults ages 18 through 64, up from the previous cutoff of 54, unless the person qualifies for another exemption.
How many hours do I need to work to keep my SNAP benefits?
Non-exempt ABAWDs generally need 80 hours a month of paid work, approved job training, volunteering, or workfare — or a combination that adds up to 80 hours.
Are veterans still exempt from SNAP work requirements in 2026?
No. USDA’s guidance confirms the temporary exemption for veterans was removed by the 2025 law. Veterans are now subject to the same ABAWD rules as other adults unless they qualify for a different exemption, such as age or disability.
What age does my child need to be for me to be exempt as a caregiver?
The caregiver exemption now applies to households with a child under 14, not under 18 as before. If your youngest child is 14 or older, you may need to meet ABAWD work requirements unless another exemption applies.
Did every state start enforcing the new rules on the same day?
No. The law took effect nationally on July 4, 2025, but individual states have rolled out enforcement on different dates — for example, New York started March 2026 and Washington D.C. started May 2026. Check with your state agency for your specific start date.
Can my state still get a waiver from ABAWD work requirements if unemployment is high locally?
Only if the area’s unemployment rate is above 10%. The 2025 law removed the option for states to get waivers based on a general lack of available jobs, making waivers much rarer than before.
A Note on What’s Still Unclear
USDA’s own SNAP work requirements webpage stated it was still in the process of releasing complete public guidance on how the 2025 law changes apply, meaning some implementation details may still be updated at the federal level. Because of this — and because state rollout dates continue to vary — treat this article as a general explainer, and confirm your personal situation with your state SNAP agency before assuming a specific date or rule applies to you.
This article reflects information verified as of August 2026, based on USDA guidance and state agency sources. SNAP rules can change and vary by state — always confirm current requirements with your local SNAP office.
Official sources:
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration – SNAP Work Requirements
- USDA SNAP OBBB ABAWD Exceptions Implementation Guidance
Related reading: See our guide to SNAP Eligibility Requirements 2026 for full income limits and application steps.
Have questions about your own SNAP case? Contact your state or county SNAP office directly, or check your state’s online SNAP portal for your personal countable months and work requirement status.
