SNAP Work Requirements in 2026
The 2025 law widened who must work, volunteer or train to keep SNAP beyond three months. These rules decide whether you can keep getting benefits — they do not change the benefit amount, so our calculator does not include them.
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Two different sets of work rules
General work requirements apply to most people aged 16–59 who can work: register for work, accept a suitable job offer, don’t quit a job without good cause, and join a state employment and training program if assigned. The 2025 law did not change who these cover.
The time limit (formerly called the ABAWD rule) is stricter: unless you work, volunteer or train at least 80 hours a month, or qualify for an exception, you can get SNAP for only 3 months in 36 months.
Who the time limit covers now
Under section 10102 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, effective July 4, 2025 (FNS implementation memo, October 3, 2025):
- Ages 18 through 64 — up from 18 through 54. People 60–64 are covered by the time limit even though they are exempt from the general work rules and cannot be required to join employment and training.
- Parents of teenagers: the exception for caring for a child now applies only to a child under 14 in the same SNAP household. Parents whose youngest child is 14–17 are covered.
- Removed exceptions: people experiencing homelessness, veterans, and young adults up to 24 who aged out of foster care are covered again.
- New exceptions: American Indians, Urban Indians and California Indians as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
Who is still exempt from the time limit
- People medically certified as unable to work (receiving SSI or Social Security disability usually shows this; retirement benefits alone do not).
- Pregnant people.
- Anyone responsible for a child under 14 in the household, or for an incapacitated person.
- People already exempt from the general work rules for another reason, such as working 30+ hours a week, getting unemployment benefits, or attending school at least half time.
- People under 18 or 65 and older.
Waivers
A state can ask to waive the time limit only for areas where unemployment is at least 10%. Alaska and Hawaii can also qualify at 150% of the national unemployment rate and may request “good faith” exemptions that expire no later than December 31, 2028. Ask your state agency whether your county has a waiver.
What to do if this applies to you
- Tell your caseworker about anything that could be an exception — a health condition, pregnancy, a child under 14, caring for someone.
- Track hours: paid work, volunteering and approved training all count toward 80 a month.
- Read every notice. A state must send notice before cutting benefits and explain how to regain eligibility.
Your state page links to its employment and training program where USDA lists one. The calculator still tells you the amount you would receive while eligible.
Sources: FNS, SNAP Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 – Information Memorandum (September 4, 2025); ABAWD Exceptions – Implementation Memorandum (October 3, 2025); Time Limit Changes – Questions and Answers #1 (June 11, 2026).