SNAP Work Rules for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)
More people with an ABAWD status must now meet work rules to keep SNAP for longer than three months. The expanded age now includes people 18 to 64 with no children under 14 on their SNAP case.
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed House Resolution One (H.R. 1). This law expanded the ages of people who need to meet SNAP work rules. People who don’t meet the work rules may lose SNAP benefits after three months.
People ages 18 to 64 who:
Don’t have a child under age 14 on their SNAP case, or
Don’t live in an exempt area, or
Don’t have any other exemptions
If work rules apply to you:
You need to do 80 hours each month of work or approved activities through:
Paid work or self-employment
Volunteering
Trading work for housing or other needs (bartering)
Joining a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Program
Any mix of the above
SNAP time limit
Some people can only get SNAP food benefits for three months in a three-year period without meeting work rules. The current three-year period is Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2027.
Some people don’t have to meet SNAP work rules. You may be exempt if any of these apply to you:
A child under age 14 gets SNAP with you
You are pregnant
You are in school at least half-time
You care for someone who can’t care for themselves
You are in alcohol or drug treatment
This does not include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) support groups
You get unemployment benefits (or have applied and not been denied)
You work at least 30 hours a week
You earn at least $935.25 a month
You get money because of a disability
You can’t work because of a physical, mental or behavioral health reason
You are in a federal refugee training program
You are meeting TANF work requirements
You are Native American or Alaska Native and meet Tribal eligibility
You get care from Indian Health Services or a Tribal or Urban Indian clinic
You live on waived Tribal land
You live in a county that is exempt