Federal rules around SNAP work requirements shifted significantly after July 4, 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), Public Law 119-21, was signed into law. USDA has been rolling out implementation guidance to states ever since — and that process is still ongoing.
The real question isn’t whether your state has “work requirements.” The question is which specific SNAP work rule applies to you, and whether you’re exempt from it.
SNAP Work Requirements at a Glance
| Situation | What to know |
|---|---|
| General SNAP work requirements | May include work registration and accepting suitable employment |
| ABAWD rules | Additional requirements can apply to adults subject to the time limit |
| Qualifying activity | Employment, qualifying work programs, combinations and workfare may count |
| Monthly target | Generally 80 hours for a person subject to the ABAWD time limit |
| Time limit | Generally 3 months of benefits within a 36-month period when the applicable requirement is not met |
| State waiver | Some geographic areas may receive an approved waiver |
| Exemptions | Depend on age, health, pregnancy, caregiving and other statutory circumstances |
| State implementation | Details can differ by state and geographic area |
What Changed for SNAP Work Requirements in 2027?
Section 10102 of Public Law 119-21 is the provision that directly modifies SNAP work requirements for able-bodied adults. It changed how ABAWD exceptions, waivers, and related requirements work — not minor tweaks.
USDA has flagged Section 10102 specifically as the SNAP Work Requirements provision and has published separate implementation materials for ABAWD exceptions and waivers. Those resources are still being updated.
That matters when you’re checking state-level rules. The actual sequence that determines what applies to you looks like this:
Federal law → USDA guidance → state implementation → geographic waiver → individual exemption
A rule that applied in your county last year may not be the same rule today.
What Is an ABAWD?
ABAWD stands for able-bodied adult without dependents. If you fall into this category and you’re subject to the SNAP time limit, you generally need to meet the applicable work requirement — or qualify for an exception, exemption, or waiver.
Failing to meet the requirement can result in loss of eligibility after the applicable time limit. That’s the core risk people in this category face.
How Many Hours Do You Have to Work for SNAP?
For an ABAWD subject to the time limit: 80 hours per month of qualifying work or approved work-program activity.
Those hours can come from employment, qualifying work programs, combinations of activities, or workfare — depending on the applicable rules. 80 hours per one month averages out to roughly 20 hours per week, but that doesn’t mean you’re required to work exactly 20 hours every single calendar week.
General SNAP Work Requirements vs. ABAWD Requirements
These two get mixed up constantly, and the confusion causes real problems.
General SNAP work requirements may include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job without good cause, not reducing hours without cause, accepting suitable employment when offered, and participating in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) when assigned. Failing to comply can result in disqualification.
The ABAWD rule is a separate, additional system — a time-limit framework that applies specifically to people who fall into that category.
| Rule | General work requirements | ABAWD |
|---|---|---|
| Work registration | May apply | May apply |
| Work activity | Depends on circumstances | Generally 80 hours/month when subject |
| Time limit | Not the same rule | Generally 3 months in a 36-month period |
| E&T/work programs | May apply | Can potentially satisfy applicable requirements |
| Exemptions | Apply | Specific ABAWD exceptions/exemptions apply |
| Waivers | Different rules may apply | Geographic ABAWD waivers are important |
Not having a job doesn’t automatically mean you lose SNAP. That’s a common and costly misunderstanding.
Who Is Exempt From SNAP Work Requirements?
Exemptions depend entirely on which work requirement is being applied. People in these categories may be protected:
- Under the applicable age threshold
- Over the applicable age threshold
- Medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment
- Pregnant, where the applicable exception applies
- Responsible for a dependent child under the applicable age
- Veterans under applicable provisions
- Experiencing homelessness under applicable provisions
- Certain former foster youth
- Otherwise covered by a statutory exception or state determination
The 2025 law specifically revised the ABAWD exception framework — including provisions about age, disability, and dependent children. Before you assume you’re covered, verify it with your state agency.
Being a parent doesn’t automatically exempt every adult from every SNAP work rule. The child’s age matters, and so does which specific rule is being applied. You can review how SNAP food restrictions by state interact with household eligibility rules to get a fuller picture.
What About SNAP Work Requirements for Ages 60–64?
This is one of the trickiest areas in 2027, and older articles get it wrong regularly.
USDA generally defines an elderly SNAP household member as someone age 60 or older for special eligibility rules. But that definition does not automatically exempt every person ages 60–64 from every work-related provision.
If you’re 60, 61, 62, 63, or 64, your state agency needs to determine four things:
- Whether general work registration applies to you
- Whether you’re subject to the ABAWD rule
- Whether another exemption or exception covers your situation
- Whether a geographic waiver affects your case
Federal rules changed after 2025. Any article you’re reading that was written before that is potentially outdated on this specific point.
What Counts Toward the 80-Hour SNAP Requirement?
Depending on your state’s implementation of the applicable rules, qualifying activities can include:
- Paid employment
- Self-employment
- Qualifying work programs
- SNAP Employment and Training
- Workfare
- Certain combinations of qualifying activities
USDA materials recognize work, work programs, and workfare as mechanisms for meeting the ABAWD requirement.
Can volunteer work count? Potentially — but don’t assume it does. The activity has to fall within the applicable qualifying category and be accepted or documented under your state’s rules. Before relying on volunteer hours, ask your state SNAP agency directly: Will this specific volunteer activity count toward my ABAWD work requirement, and what documentation do you need?
What Happens If You Don’t Meet 80 Hours?
If you’re subject to the ABAWD time limit and don’t meet the requirement — and no exception applies — you can lose eligibility after the applicable countable months. The traditional framework is three months within a 36-month period, and USDA continues to describe that framework in current materials.
Your exact situation, and how your state has implemented the post-2025 rules, determines how this plays out.
How to Regain SNAP After Losing Eligibility
Losing SNAP to an ABAWD time limit isn’t necessarily permanent. Federal rules provide pathways to regain eligibility once you subsequently meet the applicable federal and state requirements.
One documented route: meeting the required work or qualifying work-program activity level — including the 80-hour standard. USDA quality-control materials specifically describe this pathway.
Your state agency determines your exact reinstatement options. If you’re navigating this, also check the EBT payment schedule by state so you understand timing once eligibility is restored.
SNAP Work Requirements by State in 2027
There’s no clean answer to “which states have work requirements and which don’t.” The real analysis is more layered than that.
The correct state-by-state breakdown has to account for: general work registration, ABAWD requirements, individual exemptions, geographic waivers, SNAP E&T requirements, state implementation dates, county or local exceptions, and reporting procedures.
50-State SNAP Work Requirement Tracker
| State | 2027 status to verify | Key check |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Alaska | State implementation | Special federal provisions |
| Arizona | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Arkansas | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| California | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Colorado | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Connecticut | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Delaware | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Florida | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Georgia | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Hawaii | State implementation | Special federal provisions |
| Idaho | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Illinois | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Indiana | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Iowa | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Kansas | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Kentucky | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Louisiana | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Maine | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Maryland | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Massachusetts | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Michigan | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Minnesota | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Mississippi | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Missouri | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Montana | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Nebraska | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Nevada | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| New Hampshire | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| New Jersey | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| New Mexico | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| New York | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| North Carolina | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| North Dakota | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Ohio | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Oklahoma | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Oregon | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Pennsylvania | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Rhode Island | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| South Carolina | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| South Dakota | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Tennessee | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Texas | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Utah | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Vermont | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Virginia | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Washington | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| West Virginia | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Wisconsin | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| Wyoming | State implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
| District of Columbia | District implementation | ABAWD/waiver |
This table doesn’t label any state “exempt” or “no work requirements” without current state-level verification. USDA’s implementation materials and state agencies are actively updating post-2025 rules — and a label that was accurate six months ago may not be today. For related benefit details by state, the updated SNAP income limits by state guide is a useful companion resource.
How to Check Your State or County
The most reliable way to get an accurate answer is to go directly to your state’s SNAP agency. When you do, ask:
- Whether the ABAWD rule applies in your specific county
- Whether a geographic waiver is currently approved for your area
- Whether you qualify for an exemption given your age, household, and employment situation
Keep copies of everything — work records, E&T attendance, medical certifications, proof of household responsibilities. The EBT cards by state resource can also help you understand how your benefits are distributed once eligibility is confirmed.
What Documents May Be Needed?
Your state SNAP agency may ask for:
- Pay stubs or employer statements
- Timesheets
- Self-employment records
- E&T attendance records
- Workfare documentation
- Medical certification of disability or unfitness for work
- Proof of household responsibilities
- Other exemption-specific documentation
Requirements vary by state. Check your notice or state SNAP portal before submitting anything.
Common SNAP Work Requirement Mistakes
- Assuming everyone receiving SNAP must work
- Assuming everyone over 60 is automatically exempt from every work rule
- Mixing up general work registration with ABAWD requirements
- Assuming any volunteer work automatically counts toward the requirement
- Overlooking a state or county waiver that might apply
- Relying on articles written before the 2025 federal changes
- Waiting until benefits stop before reporting an exemption
- Not keeping proof of qualifying hours
- Assuming a neighboring county follows the same waiver rules as yours
If you want to see the full detail of what’s available under your EBT benefits, the EBT discounts by state guide covers additional programs and savings linked to your EBT card.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do you have to work to get SNAP in 2027?
Not necessarily. Exemptions and exceptions can apply based on age, health, household responsibilities, and location. Your specific circumstances determine which rules apply.
2. What is the 80-hour SNAP rule?
For an ABAWD subject to the SNAP time limit, the requirement is generally 80 hours per one month of qualifying work or approved work-program activity.
3. Can you get SNAP without a job?
Yes, based on your circumstances. Unemployment alone doesn’t determine eligibility — income, resources, household situation, and applicable work rules all factor in.
4. Are people ages 60–64 exempt from SNAP work requirements?
Not automatically from every requirement. SNAP uses different age thresholds for different provisions. Adults ages 60–64 should have their state agency determine what applies to them specifically.
5. Does having a child exempt you?
It can — but it depends on the child’s age and the specific work requirement at issue. The 2025 federal law revised the ABAWD exception framework for dependent children, so the old assumptions may no longer hold.
6. Does disability exempt you from SNAP work requirements?
A person medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment may qualify for an applicable exemption. Documentation requirements are set by the state SNAP agency.
7. What happens if I don’t complete 80 hours?
If you’re subject to the ABAWD time limit and don’t meet the requirement — and no exception applies — you can become ineligible after the applicable countable period. Your state agency can explain exactly how the rule applies to your case.
8. Can SNAP E&T count toward work requirements?
SNAP Employment and Training can be relevant to meeting applicable work-program requirements. Whether a specific activity counts depends on your state’s program and the applicable rules.
9. Can volunteer work count for SNAP?
Some qualifying work activities include unpaid or work-program activities, but ordinary volunteering shouldn’t be assumed to satisfy the ABAWD requirement. Confirm with your state agency before counting on it.
10. Can I regain SNAP after the ABAWD time limit?
Yes, potentially. Federal rules provide pathways for regaining eligibility after an ABAWD time-limit disqualification, including meeting the applicable work or qualifying activity requirements.
Conclusion
The rules governing SNAP work requirements in 2027 aren’t simple — they’re layered, state-specific, and still being implemented following the 2025 federal changes. If you’re subject to the ABAWD time limit, 80 hours of qualifying activity per month is the standard you need to meet. Miss that threshold without a qualifying exception, and the three-month/36-month clock starts running.
Don’t assume your age, your merried status, or your neighbor’s experience tells you what applies to you. Check your state’s latest guidance, ask about your county’s waiver status specifically, and document everything. The people who lose benefits unnecessarily are usually the ones who assumed instead of asked.
Official Resources
- Check SNAP Eligibility Requirements — USDA FNS
- Find Your State SNAP Agency — Benefits.gov
- Verify ABAWD Work Rules & Waivers — USDA FNS
- Apply for SNAP Benefits Now — USA.gov
Disclaimer: SNAP rules can change as federal and state agencies implement new legislation and guidance. This article is for general informational purposes and is not legal or benefits advice. For an individual determination, contact your state SNAP agency or local SNAP office and verify the current rules.
I am the author of EBTBenefitsGuide.com, with 3 years of experience covering SNAP and EBT benefits. They are dedicated to providing accurate, up-to-date details to help readers navigate government assistance programs with confidence.
