The SNAP work rules — what changed, and who they apply to

What is the work requirement?

Certain adults must meet a work requirement to receive SNAP for more than three months in a three-year period. This is the "time limit," and it applies to a group the rules call ABAWDs — able-bodied adults without dependents.¹

The requirement is generally met by working, volunteering, or being in a training program at least 80 hours a month.¹

Who does it apply to?

Before the 2025 law, the time limit applied to adults 18 to 54 who are able to work and have no dependents in the household. The 2025 legislation changed both the age range and the exception criteria. Under the new rules, the time limit applies to adults 18 through 64 who are able to work and do not live with a child under 14, unless another exception applies.⁵ States applied the new ages on their own schedules, so confirm which rules your state is using.

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Who is excepted?

People are generally excepted from the time limit if they are:

• Physically or mentally unable to work
• Living with a child under 14 in the SNAP household⁵
• Pregnant
• Under 18, or 65 or older⁵
• Already meeting the hours through work or a qualifying program

States can also request waivers for areas with high unemployment, and they hold a limited number of discretionary exemptions they can apply case by case.³

What changed, and what is still settling?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 revised the exception criteria, which is the change states have now written into their rules (the 18 through 64 age range and the under-14 child exception above).²⁵ It also changed the waiver criteria for high-unemployment areas; USDA has addressed the law in implementation memoranda released in stages, and states have updated their systems at different speeds. Whether your own county is under a waiver is a question for your state agency.

How do you protect yourself?

1. Report any condition that limits your ability to work. The "unable to work" exception is the most commonly missed one, and it does not require a formal disability determination.
2. Document your hours — work, volunteering, and training all count. Keep the records.
3. Open every letter. Time-limit notices carry short deadlines.
4. Ask directly: "Am I subject to the ABAWD time limit, and if so, which month am I in?" You are entitled to a clear answer.

What should you do next?

Call your state SNAP office and ask the question above. If you are told you have hit a time limit, ask what exceptions were considered — and whether your county is under a waiver. Both are worth checking before you accept a closure.