BENEFITS
SNAP Work Requirements in 2026: Who Can Lose Benefits Now (Ages 18–64, 80 Hours a Month)
The snap work requirements 2026 rules are stricter than they were a year ago, and people who were safe before now have to prove they work enough hours — or lose their food benefits. Under the law signed on July 4, 2025, the rules now reach adults up to 64, parents of teenagers are no longer automatically exempt, and veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth have lost their automatic protection. If you get SNAP, this guide explains the two rules, who is still exempt, what counts toward the 80 hours a month, and what to do if your benefits stop.
The Two SNAP Work Rules, in Plain English
SNAP has two separate sets of work requirements. The first is the general work requirements, which cover most recipients ages 16 to 59. The second is the ABAWD time limit, which is stricter and applies to able-bodied adults without dependents ages 18 to 64.
| General work requirements | ABAWD time limit | |
|---|---|---|
| Ages | 16 to 59 | 18 to 64 |
| Main rule | Register for work, accept a suitable job, do not quit or cut hours below 30 a week without good cause | Work, train, or volunteer 80 hours a month |
| Weekly hours | No set number, unless your state assigns you to a program | About 20 hours a week, averaged over the month |
| If you do not meet it | Benefits can be cut for breaking the rules | Benefits stop after 3 months in a 3-year period |
ABAWD stands for “able-bodied adult without dependents.” If it applies to you and you do not meet the 80-hour requirement, you can get SNAP for only three months in any 36-month period. The three months do not have to be back to back — they add up across the three years. Months in which you do meet the requirement do not count against you.
What Changed in 2026
The changes come from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service issued implementation guidance on October 3, 2026, and states were required to apply the new rules fully by November 1, 2025. Four things changed:
- The age range grew. The ABAWD time limit used to stop at age 54. It now runs to 64, so adults 55 to 64 who were previously clear of the rule must now meet the 80-hour requirement or qualify for another exemption.
- The child exemption shrank. Parents used to be exempt with any child under 18 in the household. Now the exemption only applies if the youngest child is under 14. Parents of 14- to 17-year-olds must now meet the work requirement.
- Three automatic exemptions are gone. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth aged 24 or younger used to be automatically exempt. That protection was removed, so people in these groups must now prove their hours or qualify under a different exemption, such as a health condition.
- Waivers got harder to get. States can now ask USDA to waive the time limit only where unemployment is above 10%. As of October 1, 2026, USDA’s waiver list showed no statewide waivers, only partial waivers in 12 states. States are still switching areas on — Michigan reinstated the rule in eight more counties on November 1, 2026.
The amounts changed too. For fiscal year 2027, which runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum SNAP benefit is $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. (See our guide to SNAP benefits in 2026 for the full amounts and income limits.)
Who Is Exempt From SNAP Work Requirements in 2026?
You are exempt from the general work requirements if any of these apply to you: you are under 16 or over 59; you are physically or mentally unable to work; you care for a child under 6, or for a household member who cannot care for themselves; you already work 30 or more hours a week; you receive unemployment benefits, or you are a student enrolled at least half time; or you take part in a drug or alcohol treatment program.
You are exempt from the ABAWD time limit if you meet any general exemption above, or any of these: you are under 18 or 65 or older; you are pregnant, at any stage; you are responsible for a child under 14 in your SNAP household; you are a member of a federally recognized Tribe; or you live in an area where the time limit is waived.
Watch out for one trap: being 60 to 64 excuses you from the general work requirements, but it does not excuse you from the time limit. If you are in that age band, you still need 80 hours a month or another exemption. If you think you qualify for an exemption, tell your state agency and be ready to show proof — a doctor’s note, a school enrollment letter, or pay stubs, depending on the reason.
What Counts Toward the 80 Hours?
You can meet the requirement with any one of these, or by combining them to reach 80 hours in the month: paid work, including part-time and temporary jobs; unpaid or volunteer work, as long as your state agency can verify it; a work program such as SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) or another federal, state, or local program; or workfare, where you work off your benefit for the hours your state assigns (your monthly allotment divided by the higher of the federal or state minimum wage).
One thing that does not count on its own: looking for a job. A job search alone, without enrollment in an approved training program, does not count toward the 80 hours. Keep records of every hour — pay stubs, a signed letter from a volunteer supervisor, or a training attendance sheet — because your state agency can ask for proof.
Example: a 58-year-old with no children at home works 15 hours a week at a store. That is about 65 hours a month (15 × 4.33 weeks), which is 15 hours short of the 80 needed. Adding one 4-hour volunteer shift a week — about 17 more hours a month — takes the total to roughly 82 hours, which meets the requirement. A few hours a week is often the difference between keeping and losing benefits.
What Happens If You Lose Benefits?
If the time limit applies to you and you do not meet it, your SNAP stops after your third countable month. To get benefits back, you must meet the work requirement for 30 days, or become exempt — for example, by turning 65, becoming pregnant, or moving into a waived area. You can also ask your state agency about a good-cause exception if something stopped you working, such as an illness, a family emergency, or your employer cutting your hours. If your benefits are stopped and you disagree with the decision, you have the right to ask for a fair hearing. Check the notice your state sent you for the deadline — it is usually short, so act quickly.
How to Check Your Status and Protect Your Benefits
Read the last notice your state agency sent — it should say whether the time limit applies to you and how many countable months you have used. Report your hours every month and keep your proof in one place. If your hours dropped, ask your caseworker about SNAP E&T or a volunteer placement before your months run out, not after. Check whether your county is waived, since waivers change, and tell the agency straight away if your situation changed — a new health problem, a new baby, a child turning 14 — because it can change which rule applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exempt from SNAP work requirements in 2026?
You are exempt if you are under 18 or 65 or older, pregnant, unable to work for health reasons, caring for a child under 14 (time limit) or under 6 (general rules), working 30 or more hours a week, receiving unemployment benefits, a student enrolled at least half time, in a drug or alcohol treatment program, or caring for a household member who cannot care for themselves. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth no longer have an automatic exemption.
How many hours do I need to work to keep SNAP?
If the ABAWD time limit applies to you, 80 hours a month of work, training, or volunteering — about 20 hours a week. You can combine paid work, unpaid work, volunteering, and an approved work program. A job search on its own does not count.
What happens if I lose SNAP because of the work requirements?
Your benefits stop after three countable months in a 36-month period. To get them back, meet the work requirement for 30 days or become exempt. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a fair hearing — check your state’s notice for the deadline.
Can I still get SNAP if I am 60 years old?
Yes, but with a warning: at 60 to 64 you are exempt from the general work requirements, yet the ABAWD time limit still applies. You need 80 hours a month or another exemption, such as a health condition or a child under 14 in your household. At 65, the time limit no longer applies.
A Final Note
This guide is information only, not legal or financial advice. SNAP rules vary by state, and the USDA is still updating some of its guidance on the 2025 law. Figures here come from the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and its October 2026 guidance — check your state agency’s own pages for your local rules, waivers, and deadlines, and talk to a caseworker or a legal-aid office if your benefits are at risk.
