If you've heard the SNAP work rules changed and you're not sure where you stand, here's the answer. Most adults ages 18 to 64 who can work and don't live with a child under 14 must work or train at least 20 hours a week. If they don't, SNAP is limited to three months in three years (USDA: SNAP work requirements). Many people are exempt, and the full list is below.
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Work rules sit on top of SNAP's regular income and household rules, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) explains in its SNAP eligibility overview. For the income limits, see our 2026 SNAP eligibility guide. This page covers the work rules only.
Do I have to work to keep my SNAP benefits?
SNAP has two separate sets of work rules. They cover different people and ask for different things. Mixing them up is a big reason the government pages feel confusing.
General work rules apply to most adults ages 16 to 59 who can work. These rules don't set a number of hours. You have to register for work and take a suitable job if one is offered. You can't quit a job or cut your hours below 30 a week without a good reason. You also have to join a work program if your state assigns you one (USDA: SNAP work requirements).
The time limit asks more of a smaller group. USDA calls this group ABAWDs, short for "able-bodied adults without dependents." They have to meet an hours requirement to keep SNAP longer than three months.
General work rules | Time limit (ABAWD rule) | |
|---|---|---|
Who it covers | Adults 16 to 59 who can work | Adults 18 to 64 who can work, with no child under 14 in the household |
What you have to do | Register for work, accept a suitable job, don't quit or drop below 30 hours without good reason | Work or do a qualifying activity at least 80 hours a month (about 20 a week) |
If you don't meet it | You can be disqualified from SNAP for a period of time | SNAP is limited to 3 months in a 36-month period |
Who has to meet the SNAP time limit in 2026?
The time limit likely applies to you if all of these are true:
- You're 18 to 64.
- You're physically and mentally able to work.
- No child under 14 is part of your SNAP household.
- You don't fit any exemption listed below.
If that's you, you need at least 80 hours a month of work or a qualifying activity. That's about 20 hours a week. If you fall short, you can get SNAP for only three months in a 36-month period (USDA Q&A on the 2025 law's time-limit changes).
Your state decides how it counts the 36-month period (USDA: SNAP work requirements). Some states use one fixed window for everyone. Others count back from the current month. Your caseworker can tell you how many months you've already used.
Here's how this plays out. Say you're 58, live alone, and work 15 hours a week stocking shelves. Before the 2025 law, the time limit didn't apply to someone your age, but now it likely does (USDA Q&A on the 2025 law's time-limit changes). You'd need about five more hours a week from volunteering, a training program, or more work, unless an exemption fits.
What counts toward the 20 hours a week?
A paycheck isn't the only thing that counts. You can mix activities to reach 80 hours a month (USDA: SNAP work requirements).
- Paid work. Part-time jobs and self-employment both count.
- Volunteering. Unpaid work counts when your state can verify it.
- Work and training programs. This includes SNAP Employment and Training (E&T), your state's job training program for people on SNAP.
- Workfare. This means working in exchange for your benefits. Your state sets the hours.
A job search by itself usually doesn't count. It can count when it's part of an approved training program.
Keep a record of your hours. Pay stubs and a signed volunteer log are good places to start. Your state decides what proof it accepts, so ask before you rely on one kind.
Who's exempt from SNAP work requirements?
You don't have to meet the time limit if any of these apply to you (USDA: SNAP work requirements):
- You're under 18, or 65 or older.
- You're physically or mentally unable to work. Your state may ask for a statement from a medical provider.
- You're pregnant.
- You're responsible for a child under 14 in your SNAP household.
- You care for someone who can't care for themselves.
- You already work 30 hours a week, or earn about what 30 hours at the federal minimum wage would pay.
- You get unemployment benefits or have applied for them.
- You're in a drug or alcohol treatment program.
- You're enrolled at least half time in school or training. Students have their own SNAP rules, so ask your state how they apply to you.
- You're a member of a federally recognized tribe or another American Indian group the 2025 law covers. This exemption is new (USDA Q&A on the 2025 law's time-limit changes).
States can also grant a limited number of extra exemptions each month. Your state should screen you for exemptions. It can only apply the ones it knows about, so tell your caseworker about anything on this list.
What changed under the 2025 law?
A federal budget law signed in July 2025 rewrote who the time limit covers. Several groups that used to be exempt now have to meet the 20-hour rule unless they qualify another way (USDA Q&A on the 2025 law's time-limit changes).
Group | Before the 2025 law | Now |
|---|---|---|
Adults 55 to 64 | Not covered by the time limit | Covered |
Parents of a child 14 to 17 | Exempt (the child cutoff was under 18) | Covered unless another exemption fits |
Veterans | Exempt | Covered unless another exemption fits |
People experiencing homelessness | Exempt | Covered unless another exemption fits |
Former foster youth, 24 or younger | Exempt | Covered unless another exemption fits |
American Indian groups covered by the law | No separate exemption | Exempt |
The law also narrowed when states can waive the time limit for areas with few jobs. If your county had a waiver before, it may not have one now. Your state office can tell you.
Medicaid has its own work rule starting in 2027, with different exemptions. Our guide to Medicaid work requirements in 2027 covers that change.
What happens if I don't meet the SNAP work rule?
Your SNAP stops after you use your three countable months. Months when you meet the rule or are exempt don't count against you.
You can get SNAP again by meeting the rule. For example, working or training 80 hours within a 30-day period can restore your eligibility (USDA: SNAP work requirements). Showing that you now fit an exemption works too.
The general work rules work differently. Quitting a job without good reason can lead to a disqualification period. Your state sets how long it lasts.
If you get a notice you disagree with, the notice explains how to ask for a fair hearing.
What this means for you
- Check your age and household. If you're 18 to 64 with no child under 14 in your SNAP household, the time limit may apply.
- Go through the exemption list. If one fits, tell your caseworker and ask what proof they need.
- Count your hours. Add up work, volunteering, and training for a typical month. You're aiming for 80.
- Ask about SNAP E&T. A training slot can fill the gap if your job hours fall short.
- Keep your records. Save pay stubs and volunteer logs every month.
SNAP is run by each state, so for how it works where you live, including where to apply, check with your state's SNAP agency, and browse the Turnout blog for more on benefits.
If a health condition is the reason you can't work, disability benefits may be worth a look too. Our step-by-step guide to applying for SSDI and SSI covers Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Calling your state SNAP office is often the fastest way to learn how many months you've used. If you have questions about whether our services fit your situation, contact our team.
FAQ
Does volunteering count toward SNAP work hours? Yes, volunteer hours count toward the 80 a month when your state can verify them. Ask your caseworker what proof they accept before you start.
I'm a veteran. Am I still exempt from the SNAP time limit? You're not exempt automatically anymore. The 2025 law removed the veteran exemption. If a health condition limits your work, ask whether you qualify as unable to work.
My youngest just turned 14. Does the time limit apply to me now? It might, if no other exemption fits. Under the 2025 law, only a child under 14 in your SNAP household exempts you, so a 14-year-old no longer counts. Check the exemption list above, and tell your caseworker if another one fits.
Does each adult in my household have to meet the work rule? The rules apply to each adult separately, so one person can be exempt while another has to meet the hours requirement. Ask your caseworker to review each adult's situation one at a time.
Can I use SNAP to buy anything while I work on meeting the hours? As long as you're getting SNAP, the usual food rules apply, and some states now restrict candy and sweetened drinks. For details on eligible items, see what you can buy with SNAP benefits.
Turnout is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
It's your turn
SNAP may not be the only help your household can get. Other programs may be available in your state, and you can learn more from Turnout about which ones you may qualify for.