SNAP work rules now cover adults up to 64
Who is newly affected, which exemptions ended, and what counts toward 80 hours a month.
What changed?
Previously, SNAP time limits (called ABAWD rules — Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) applied to adults aged 18 to 52. Legislation expanded the upper age limit to 54 years old in 2023, and the 2025 Farm Bill further raised it to 64. Since February 1, 2026, SNAP recipients aged 18 to 64 who do not have a qualifying child living with them must work, train or volunteer to keep their benefits beyond three months in any 36-month period.
Who is newly affected?
Adults aged 55 to 64 who were previously exempt are now subject to the ABAWD rules. Veterans who were automatically exempt under prior rules lost that automatic exemption (though veterans with service-connected disabilities or other qualifying conditions may still be exempt). People experiencing homelessness and former foster youth also lost automatic exemptions.
What exemptions still apply?
- You care for a dependent child under 18 in your household
- You are pregnant
- You are physically or mentally unable to work (must be documented)
- You are already meeting work requirements for another program (TANF, Medicaid)
- You live in an area with a USDA-approved waiver for high unemployment (check with your state)
What counts toward 80 hours?
- Paid employment
- Job search activities (in some states, with limits)
- Approved job training or vocational programs
- Community college or education programs
- Workfare (SNAP Employment and Training program)
Contact your state SNAP office to find out if your state has a waiver. If not, ask about SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) — a free job-placement program that can help you meet the requirement and may also count toward your 80 hours.
Find your state SNAP office