Here’s what you need to know about SNAP work requirements:
- Some adults must prove 80 hours of work, training, school or volunteering each month to keep SNAP.
- In most of New York, enforcement starts March 1, 2026.
- If you don’t meet the rule, you can usually only get SNAP for three months in three years.
- U.S.-citizen children can still get SNAP even if their parents cannot.
This information is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney or accredited representative. The content was last updated January 2025.
What’s changing with SNAP?
Some adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, now have to show they completed 80 hours a month at a job or an equivalent opportunity to maintain their benefits.
The new rules are most often applied when you recertify, which is the renewal process where you confirm your household information.
Do these SNAP work rules apply to everyone?
No. Some adults must follow SNAP work rules, but many people are exempt. Also, SNAP has two separate work rule systems.
One set is the general SNAP work rules, which applies to many adults who are able to work. The other is the time limit rule for certain adults, which can cut off SNAP after a few months if you do not meet the 80-hour requirement.
What are the general SNAP work rules?
The general work rules usually apply to adults ages 16 to 59 who are able to work. Under these rules, SNAP may require you to register for work, accept a suitable job offer and participate in employment and training.
If you do not follow these rules, you can be disqualified from SNAP for at least one month and the penalty can be longer if it happens again.
The rest of this article is related to adults whom the government classifies as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents. These people have additional requirements to receive SNAP regularly and face harsher consequences if they don’t.
If you’re in New York, learn more about the state’s explanation of the work requirements here.
What is the stricter SNAP time limit rule?
Under President Trump’s One Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), more SNAP participants will have to work to receive food stamps — or provide the government with evidence that they should be exempt from a work requirement.
The biggest changes with SNAP affect Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD), which the government defines as adults ages 18 to 64 who do not have dependents, a disability that prevents them from working, or a combination of other exemptions.
If you qualify as an ABAWD, and you do not spend 80 hours a month at a job or an equivalent opportunity, then you can generally receive SNAP for only three months within a 3-year period. After those three months are used, benefits stop unless you later meet the requirement or are granted an exemption.
What counts as 80 hours a month?
To keep SNAP, you must document at least 80 hours per month of work. You can meet the requirement through paid work, job training or a combination of approved activities.
Qualifying activities typically include working a paid job full time or part time, doing in-kind work where you work in exchange for goods or services, volunteering at an approved site or participating in an approved employment and training program. You can also combine work and training hours, as long as the total adds up to 80 hours for the month.
Your local SNAP office decides what programs count and what proof you need to provide.
I’m a parent. Do I still qualify for an exemption?
It depends on your child’s age.
If your youngest child is 14 to 17, you may now have to meet the 80-hour requirement to keep SNAP, even if you are the head of household.
Who is exempt from the 80-hour rule?
Many people are still exempt. In general, you do not have to meet the 80-hour requirement if you are pregnant, if you can provide medical documentation that proves you have a physical or mental condition that limits your ability, or if you are caring for a child under 14 in your household.
You may also be exempt if you are caring for an incapacitated person who cannot care for themselves, if you are participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program or if you are a student enrolled at least half time. Students can qualify for exemptions, but SNAP has additional student eligibility rules, so it’s important to confirm your situation with your local office.
What exemptions did OBBBA remove?
The law removed some temporary protections that were added in recent years. Under OBBBA, exemptions connected to veteran status, homelessness and young adults who were previously in foster care no longer automatically apply. People in those groups may now need to meet the 80-hour rule.
What’s the situation in New York?
Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents in New York must begin meeting the work rules on March 1, 2026. If you’re not sure whether the rule applies where you live, your local SNAP office can confirm.
The first month benefits may be cut is June 2026 for people who did not meet the requirement during March, April and May.
Will my SNAP benefits stop immediately if I don’t meet the new rules?
Not automatically. Current recipients generally continue receiving benefits, and the new requirements are often reviewed when you renew or recertify your case. If you think you may be affected, it’s safer to act early.
Recertification is how you renew your SNAP benefits. If you already get SNAP in New York, you will usually receive a recertification packet in the mail about two months before your benefits are scheduled to end. The packet includes a renewal application and an interview appointment listed on the first page.
The process has three key steps:
- You must submit the recertification application before you can be interviewed. You can submit it by mail, online through myBenefits.ny.gov, by fax, or in person at your local department of social services.
- You must complete the interview, which is often done by phone.
- After the interview, the SNAP office may ask you for additional documents, such as proof of income or changes in your household.
If you submit your application after the interview date listed in your packet, you must reschedule your interview yourself before the certification period ends. If you miss deadlines, your benefits can be delayed or stopped, even if you are still eligible.
What about SNAP and mixed-status households?
U.S.-citizen children can still qualify even if their parents are undocumented or no longer eligible. In a mixed-status household, the SNAP office generally asks immigration information only for the people applying for benefits. Benefits are calculated based on the number of eligible people in the household, so the amount may be smaller if not everyone qualifies.
What should I do before my next renewal?
If you think the work rules may apply to you, the most important step is to figure out whether you qualify for an exemption and report it as soon as possible. If you are pregnant, have a disability or care for a child under 14, tell your SNAP office and ask what documents they accept.
If you can work, ask your SNAP office what activities count toward the 80 hours and how you should report your hours each month. If you are close to losing benefits, ask for a written explanation of your time limit status, including which months were counted.
If I lose SNAP, where can I get food help in New York?
Even if SNAP is reduced or cut off, other programs may still be available. Many families can still get help through:
