SNAP has two kinds of work rules. General work rules apply to most adults 16 to 59: register for work and don’t quit a job without good reason. The stricter rule is the time limit for “able-bodied adults without dependents,” which limits SNAP to 3 months in any 3-year period unless you work, volunteer or train at least 80 hours a month. The 2025 budget law (Public Law 119-21) expanded that time limit to many more people: it now covers adults 18 to 64 and parents whose youngest child is 14 or older.
This guide explains who the time limit covers in 2026, who is exempt, what counts toward 80 hours, how waivers changed, and how to keep your benefits. It is part of our SNAP and EBT guides. For income rules, see SNAP eligibility and income limits.
What changed in 2025
The changes took effect when the law was signed on July 4, 2025. USDA told states how to apply them in memos in September and October 2025.
| Rule | Before July 2025 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Ages covered by the time limit | 18 to 54 | 18 to 64 |
| Parents exempt | Any child under 18 in the household | Only if a child under 14 is in the household |
| Veterans | Exempt | No longer automatically exempt |
| People experiencing homelessness | Exempt | No longer automatically exempt |
| Former foster youth (24 and under) | Exempt | No longer automatically exempt |
| American Indians, Urban Indians, California Indians | Not a separate exemption | Newly exempt |
| Area waivers | Available where jobs were scarce | Only where unemployment is over 10% (special rules for Alaska and Hawaii) |
Existing “lack of sufficient jobs” waivers ended about 30 days after USDA’s October 3, 2025 memo, so most areas lost them in early November 2025.
Who the 3-month time limit applies to
You are subject to the time limit if all of these are true:
- You are 18 to 64 years old.
- No child under 14 lives in your SNAP household.
- You are physically and mentally able to work.
- You do not meet any exemption below.
If you are covered, you can get SNAP for 3 months in a 36-month period. After that, you keep SNAP only for months you meet the work requirement.
Who is exempt
| Exemption | Notes |
|---|---|
| Under 18 or 65 and older | Outside the age range |
| A child under 14 in your SNAP household | Applies even if you are not the parent |
| Pregnant | Any stage of pregnancy |
| Physically or mentally unfit for work | A doctor’s note or disability benefit usually proves it |
| Already exempt from general work rules | For example, caring for an incapacitated person, getting unemployment benefits, taking part in a drug or alcohol treatment program, or working 30+ hours a week |
| American Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian | New in 2025 |
| Living in a waived area | Only areas with unemployment over 10%, or qualifying parts of Alaska and Hawaii |
States can also give a limited number of individual exemptions each month (based on 8% of their covered caseload), so ask your caseworker if your situation is hard.
How to meet the 80-hour work requirement
You meet the requirement in a month if you do any of these, or a combination, for at least 80 hours:
| Activity | Counts? |
|---|---|
| Paid work (including self-employment) | Yes, or earning at least federal minimum wage × 80 hours |
| Unpaid or in-kind work | Yes |
| Volunteering | Yes, if verified |
| A qualifying work or training program (for example SNAP Employment and Training, WIOA) | Yes |
| Workfare assigned by your state | Yes, the assigned hours |
| Job search alone | Only a limited amount, as part of a work program |
Keep proof: pay stubs, a signed volunteer log or a program attendance letter. Report your hours the way your state asks.
What happens if you don’t meet it
After 3 countable months without meeting the requirement, your SNAP stops for that individual (the rest of the household keeps its benefits). You can regain eligibility by:
- Working or training 80 hours in a 30-day period, then reporting it; or
- Becoming exempt, for example turning 65, a child under 14 joining the household, or a health condition.
Once you regain eligibility and then stop meeting the requirement again, you can get one extra 3-month period in the 36 months.
Examples
| Person | Covered by the time limit? |
|---|---|
| 58-year-old single adult, no health limits | Yes (newly covered in 2025) |
| 40-year-old mother whose youngest child is 15 | Yes (newly covered) |
| 40-year-old mother whose youngest child is 12 | No, child under 14 |
| 35-year-old veteran, no dependents | Yes (veteran exemption removed; see SNAP for veterans) |
| 62-year-old receiving disability benefits | No, unfit for work |
| 30-year-old working 25 hours a week | Covered, but meets the requirement (100+ hours a month) |
Tips to protect your benefits
- Tell your caseworker about any health condition, pregnancy or caregiving right away; exemptions only apply once your state knows.
- Ask your state for a SNAP Employment and Training slot; it both counts toward 80 hours and can pay for training costs.
- Report hours every month your state requires it.
- If benefits stop, you can reapply once you meet the requirement or become exempt; see how to apply for SNAP.
Frequently asked questions
Does the time limit apply to my whole household? No. Only the adult who is covered and not meeting the requirement loses SNAP. Children and other members keep their share, although the household total goes down.
Do the 3 months have to be in a row? No. The limit counts any 3 months in a 36-month period in which you were covered, got SNAP, and did not meet the requirement or have an exemption.
Does volunteering count? Yes, if it is in a workfare program or counts under your state’s rules. Unpaid work, volunteering and approved training can be combined with paid work to reach 80 hours.
What if my area has high unemployment? States can ask for a waiver only for areas with unemployment above 10%. Ask your office whether your county has one.
I am pregnant. Am I exempt? Yes. Pregnancy is an exemption from the time limit. Tell your caseworker so it is recorded. See SNAP for pregnant women.
Does gig or self-employment work count? Yes. Self-employment counts if your earnings are at least the federal minimum wage times 80 hours a month, or if you can show 80 hours worked.
Work rules do not change how much you get when you qualify; that is covered in SNAP benefit amounts. Your yearly renewal is covered in SNAP recertification. If SNAP ends, remember that Lifeline, which pays for a free government phone plan, can still be available through income or Medicaid; see Lifeline eligibility. For the program basics, see what SNAP is.
Sources: USDA: 2025 law implementation memo (Sept 4, 2025), USDA: ABAWD exceptions memo (Oct 3, 2025), USDA: ABAWD waivers memo (Oct 3, 2025), USDA: Fiscal Responsibility Act memo, USDA: OBBB implementation page, Congressional Research Service: R48552.