SNAP Employment and Training, or SNAP E&T, is a free program in every state that helps people on SNAP get job skills, training, education and work experience. It can also pay costs that come with taking part, like bus passes, gas, child care, books, uniforms and tools. For adults covered by the 3-month work time limit, E&T hours count toward the 80 hours a month needed to keep SNAP.
To sign up, ask your SNAP caseworker or local office about E&T. Some states require certain people to join; most people can join by choice.
What E&T offers
Federal rules (7 CFR 273.7) let states offer these services. Each state picks which ones it runs.
| Service | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Job search and job search training | Help with resumes, applications, interviews |
| Education | GED classes, English classes, career and technical training, some community college programs |
| Work experience | Unpaid placements or internships to build skills |
| Workfare | Working a set number of hours in exchange for benefits |
| Self-employment training | Help starting a small business |
| Job retention | Up to 90 days of support after you start a job |
| Career planning and case management | A worker who helps plan your path and remove barriers |
Many states run E&T through community colleges, workforce centers and nonprofits, so the place you go may not look like a government office.
Help with costs
States must pay back costs that are reasonable, necessary and directly tied to taking part. Common ones:
- Transportation: bus passes, gas cards, mileage
- Child or dependent care while you attend
- Books, training manuals and course supplies
- Uniforms, work boots, tools and safety gear
Ask what your state covers before you start, and keep receipts. Some programs pay up front; others reimburse.
Voluntary or required?
It depends on your state.
| Type | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Voluntary E&T | You choose to join. You can’t lose SNAP for leaving, though the time limit may still apply if you’re covered by it. |
| Mandatory E&T | The state can require some work registrants to take part as a condition of SNAP. You’ll get a written notice listing exemptions. |
Adults 60 and older are exempt from the general work rules, including mandatory E&T. So are people who are unable to work, caring for a child under 6, or already working 30 hours a week, among others. See SNAP work requirements for the full list.
How E&T counts toward the 80-hour rule
Since the 2025 budget law, adults 18 to 64 without a child under 14 at home can get SNAP for only 3 months in 3 years unless they meet 80 hours a month of work or a work program. E&T is one of the ways to meet it.
| Activity | Counts toward 80 hours? |
|---|---|
| E&T training, education or work experience | Yes |
| Paid work | Yes |
| Volunteer work | Yes |
| Workfare | Yes (hours set by the state) |
| Job search alone | No |
| Job search as part of a larger E&T program | Only if it’s less than half the hours |
Mix and match works. Twenty hours of paid work plus 60 hours of E&T training in a month meets the requirement.
Example: Dana, 52, lost her warehouse job and has no children at home. Under the 2025 law she’s now covered by the time limit. She joins a 12-week forklift and logistics certificate through her state’s E&T partner at a community college, 20 hours a week (about 86 hours a month). That meets the rule, and E&T pays her bus pass and safety boots.
How to join
- Ask your SNAP caseworker about E&T, or check your state’s E&T page.
- Meet with an E&T provider to set a plan based on your goals.
- Ask what costs are covered and how you’ll be paid back.
- Track your hours, and turn in attendance forms if your state asks.
- Tell SNAP right away if you can’t attend because of illness or a family emergency; you may have a good cause.
If you’re covered by the time limit and can’t find a slot
States don’t have to offer E&T to everyone covered by the time limit. If no slot is available, look at volunteer work or workfare to reach 80 hours, and ask your caseworker whether you qualify for an exemption, such as being medically unable to work or pregnant. If your SNAP stops and you think you met the hours, you can request a fair hearing.
Quick answers
Does E&T cost anything? No. Training through E&T is free to SNAP participants.
Can E&T help me get a GED or English classes? Yes, if your state offers education services.
Does taking a job end my SNAP? Not necessarily. Your benefit goes down as income rises; see SNAP benefit amounts. Report the change as required; see SNAP reporting changes.
Students have separate rules; see SNAP for college students. Not on SNAP yet? See how to apply for SNAP.
More SNAP help by topic: SNAP and EBT guides.
Sources: USDA: SNAP E&T, USDA: SNAP E&T for participants, eCFR: 7 CFR 273.7 (work requirements and E&T), eCFR: 7 CFR 273.24 (time limit), USDA: ABAWD exceptions memo (Oct 3, 2025).