SNAP Work Requirements 2026: Who Is Exempt From the Time Limit
Under Public Law 119-21 (July 4, 2025), the SNAP time limit, which is three countable months in three years for an adult who is not meeting the work requirement, generally applies to adults aged 18 through 64 unless they meet one of the listed exceptions, according to the FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025. The general work requirements are a separate set of rules with their own exemptions.
For the income side of SNAP, see SNAP income limits by state; for the benefit amount, the SNAP benefits calculator; and for a quick income check, can I get food stamps.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 4, 2026 · Methodology & sources
FedRateCalc is not affiliated with USDA or any state agency, and this page is not an eligibility decision. The USDA and state agency pages and the law itself are authoritative. Where these documents differ, each is shown, with its date.
Two sets of SNAP work requirements
FNS describes two sets: the general work requirements and the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) work requirement and time limit. The FNS page describes the general requirements this way:
“If you are age 16–59 and able to work, you will probably need to meet the general work requirements to get SNAP benefits.”
The regulation behind them, 7 CFR 273.7(a)(1), reads:
“As a condition of eligibility for SNAP benefits, each household member not exempt under paragraph (b)(1) of this section must comply with the following SNAP work requirements: (i) Register for work or be registered by the State agency at the time of application and every 12 months after initial registration. The member required to register need not complete the registration form. (ii) Participate in a Food Stamp Employment and Training (E&T) program if assigned by the State agency, to the extent required by the State agency; (iii) Participate in a workfare program if assigned by the State agency; (iv) Provide the State agency or its designee with sufficient information regarding employment status or availability for work; (v) Report to an employer to whom referred by the State agency or its designee if the potential employment meets the suitability requirements described in paragraph (h) of this section; (vi) Accept a bona fide offer of suitable employment, as defined in paragraph (h) of this section, at a site or plant not subject to a strike or lockout, at a wage equal to the higher of the Federal or State minimum wage or 80 percent of the wage that would have governed had the minimum hourly rate under section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act been applicable to the offer of employment. (vii) Do not voluntarily and without good cause quit a job of 30 or more hours a week or reduce work effort to less than 30 hours a week, in accordance with paragraph (j) of this section.”
Exemptions from the general work requirements (7 CFR 273.7(b)(1))
The regulation lists these eight exemptions, as printed in the eCFR text up to date as of November 2, 2026:
“(i) A person younger than 16 years of age or a person 60 years of age or older. A person age 16 or 17 who is not the head of a household or who is attending school, or is enrolled in an employment training program, on at least a half-time basis, is also exempt. If the person turns 16 (or 18 under the preceding sentence) during a certification period, the State agency must register the person as part of the next scheduled recertification process, unless the person qualifies for another exemption.”
“(ii) A person physically or mentally unfit for employment. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), a State agency will define physical and mental fitness; establish procedures for verifying; and will verify claimed physical or mental unfitness when necessary. However, the State agency must not use a definition, procedure for verification, or verification that is less restrictive on SNAP recipients than a comparable meaning, procedure, or determination under the State agency's program funded under title IV-A of the Social Security Act.”
“(iii) A person subject to and complying with any work requirement under title IV of the Social Security Act. If the exemption claimed is questionable, the State agency is responsible for verifying the exemption.”
“(iv) A parent or other household member responsible for the care of a dependent child under 6 or an incapacitated person. If the child has his or her 6th birthday during a certification period, the State agency must work register the individual responsible for the care of the child as part of the next scheduled recertification process, unless the individual qualifies for another exemption.”
“(v) A person receiving unemployment compensation. A person who has applied for, but is not yet receiving, unemployment compensation is also exempt if that person is complying with work requirements that are part of the Federal-State unemployment compensation application process. If the exemption claimed is questionable, the State agency is responsible for verifying the exemption with the appropriate office of the State employment services agency.”
“(vi) A regular participant in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program.”
“(vii) An employed or self-employed person working a minimum of 30 hours weekly or earning weekly wages at least equal to the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30 hours. This includes migrant and seasonal farm workers under contract or similar agreement with an employer or crew chief to begin employment within 30 days (although this will not prevent individuals from seeking additional services from the State employment services agency). For work registration purposes, a person residing in areas of Alaska designated in § 274.10(a)(4)(iv) of this chapter, who subsistence hunts and/or fishes a minimum of 30 hours weekly (averaged over the certification period) is considered exempt as self-employed. An employed or self-employed person who voluntarily and without good cause reduces his or her work effort and, after the reduction, is working less than 30 hours per week, is ineligible to participate in SNAP under paragraph (j) of this section.”
“(viii) A student enrolled at least half-time in any recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education. Students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education must meet the student eligibility requirements listed in § 273.5. A student will remain exempt during normal periods of class attendance, vacation, and recess. If the student graduates, enrolls less than half-time, is suspended or expelled, drops out, or does not intend to register for the next normal school term (excluding summer), the State agency must work register the individual, unless the individual qualifies for another exemption.”
The time limit for adults (7 CFR 273.24)
The time limit is in 7 CFR 273.24. It says:
“Individuals are not eligible to participate in SNAP as a member of any household if the individual received SNAP benefits for more than three countable months during any three-year period, except that individuals may be eligible for up to three additional countable months in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section.”
The regulation defines what meets the work requirement for the time limit:
“Fulfilling the work requirement means: (i) Working 20 hours per week, averaged monthly; for purposes of this provision, 20 hours a week averaged monthly means 80 hours a month; (ii) Participating in and complying with the requirements of a work program 20 hours per week, as determined by the State agency; (iii) Any combination of working and participating in a work program for a total of 20 hours per week, as determined by the State agency; or (iv) Participating in and complying with a workfare program;”
The FNS work requirements page, captured October 22, 2026 and marked updated July 16, 2026, states the earlier age range and says guidance on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was still being prepared:
“If you are age 18–54, able to work, and don’t have any dependents, you might need to meet both the general work requirements and an additional work requirement for ABAWDs to get SNAP for more than three months in three years (the time limit).”
“We are in the process of providing guidance on how The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changes the work requirements for SNAP able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). This includes changes to the ABAWD exception criteria and ABAWD waiver criteria. We will update this page once the guidance is released.”
What Public Law 119-21 changed
Section 10102(a) of Public Law 119-21 replaced the list of exceptions to the time limit. The enacted text is:
“Paragraph (2) shall not apply to an individual if the individual is-- (A) under 18, or over 65, years of age; (B) medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment; (C) a parent or other member of a household with responsibility for a dependent child under 14 years of age; (D) otherwise exempt under subsection (d)(2); (E) a pregnant woman; (F) an Indian or an Urban Indian (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (13) and (28) of section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act); or (G) a California Indian described in section 809(a) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.”
Age
“The OBBB increases the age of those subject to the time limit to age 64. Therefore, individuals aged 18 to 64 are now subject to the time limit, unless they meet another exception.”
“The OBBB does not change the upper age limit for the general work requirements at Section 6(d)(3) of the Act. Individuals aged 60 or older remain exempt from the general work requirements, including mandatory participation in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T).”
“No. The OBBB did not change who is subject to the general work requirements. Individuals aged 60 to 64 are not subject to the general work requirements, per section 6(d)(1)(A) of the Act.”
“No. State agencies may not require individuals aged 60 to 64 to participate in mandatory employment and training (E&T). These individuals may voluntarily participate in E&T.”
“Yes. Individuals aged 60 to 64 are subject to the time limit, unless they meet another exception.”
Parents and household members with a dependent child
“The OBBB limits the exception for a parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent child to children under 14 years of age. Previously, this exception applied to a parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent child under 18 years of age.”
“Yes, per 7 CFR 273.24(c)(3), the dependent child must be a part of the same SNAP household, as defined at 7 CFR 273.1(a), for the adult to qualify for the exception.”
Homeless, veterans and former foster youth
“The OBBB removes the temporary exceptions for the following populations, which were added by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA): 1. Homeless individuals; 2. Veterans; and 3. Individuals aged 24 or younger and in foster care on their 18th birthday (or a higher age if the State offers extended foster care). These individuals are once again subject to the time limit, as they were prior to the 2023 FRA, unless they meet another exception.”
Indians, Urban Indians and California Indians
“The OBBB adds new exceptions for Indians, also referred to as Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Indigenous Peoples, and Tribal Members.”
Social Security benefits
“Not necessarily. The Act does not provide an exception from the time limit for individuals receiving Social Security benefits.”
“an individual receiving disability benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), would indicate the individual is medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment per 7 CFR 273.24(c)(2)(i).”
Effective dates
The FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 gives these dates:
“Application of Modified Exception Criteria These changes were effective upon enactment, July 4, 2025. State agencies must immediately screen for and apply the modified exception criteria to all initial applications and recertification applications.”
“FNS will, as appropriate, hold States harmless for Quality Control (QC) purposes for 120 days from the required implementation date.”
“None of the above provisions are subject to early implementation rules at 7 CFR 275.12(d)(2)(vii)(A) since the enactment date of all provisions began on July 4, 2025. The exclusionary period end date for all the above provisions is November 1, 2025.”
The documents side by side
When we checked on November 4, 2026, the eCFR showed 7 CFR 273.24 as up to date as of November 2, 2026, and the section's latest amendment on the eCFR was dated January 17, 2025, before Public Law 119-21. Where these documents differ, each is shown here, with its date. An empty cell means the document's list has no such item.
| Item | Public Law 119-21 section 10102(a), July 4, 2025 | 7 CFR 273.24(c), eCFR up to date as of November 2, 2026 | FNS memorandum, October 3, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | “under 18, or over 65, years of age” | “Under 18 or 55 years of age or older” | “The OBBB increases the age of those subject to the time limit to age 64.” |
| Child in the household | “a parent or other member of a household with responsibility for a dependent child under 14 years of age” | “Is a parent (natural, adoptive, or step) of a household member under age 18, even if the household member who is under 18 is not himself eligible for SNAP benefits” | “The OBBB limits the exception for a parent or other household member with responsibility for a dependent child to children under 14 years of age.” |
| Living in a household with a member under 18 | “Is residing in a household where a household member is under age 18, even if the household member who is under 18 is not himself eligible for SNAP benefits” | ||
| Homeless | “Homeless, as defined in § 271.2 of this chapter” | Removed by the OBBB: “1. Homeless individuals;” | |
| Veteran | “A veteran, defined as an individual who, regardless of the conditions of their discharge or release from, served in the United States Armed Forces (such as Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard)” | Removed by the OBBB: “2. Veterans; and” | |
| Former foster youth | “An individual who is 24 years of age or younger and who was in foster care under the responsibility of any State, District, U.S. Territories, Indian Tribal Organization, or Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program on the date of attaining 18 years of age” | Removed by the OBBB: “3. Individuals aged 24 or younger and in foster care on their 18th birthday (or a higher age if the State offers extended foster care).” | |
| Indians, Urban Indians, California Indians | “an Indian or an Urban Indian (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (13) and (28) of section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act)” | “1. “An Indian” as defined in paragraph (13) of section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA); […]” |
The eCFR text of 7 CFR 273.24(c)(10) also says:
“(10) Unless otherwise changed by law, the exceptions provided at paragraphs (c)(7) through (9) of this section cease to have effect on October 1, 2030, and the age limit provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section reverts from “55 years of age or older” to “50 years of age or older” on October 1, 2030.”
The FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 says these changes “were effective upon enactment, July 4, 2025”; the eCFR text has not been amended since January 17, 2025.
Time limit waivers and state implementation
This page gives the federal rule and does not state any state's waiver status or implementation date. Those depend on each state agency's request and on FNS approval, and the FNS page linked below lists waiver status by state by fiscal quarter.
“The Food and Nutrition Act allows states to ask us to temporarily waive the time limit for individuals living in areas that have an unemployment rate of over 10%. Alaska and Hawaii can also request to temporarily waive the time limit for individuals living in areas with unemployment rates 1.5 times the national average. However, a time limit waiver does not waive the general SNAP work requirements.”
“Per Section 6(o)(4)(A) of the Act, to qualify for a waiver, State agencies must demonstrate that the requested areas have unemployment rates of over 10 percent, or in Alaska and Hawaii, that unemployment rate is at or over 1.5 times the national unemployment rate.”
Public Law 119-21 also lets the Secretary approve a temporary exemption for Alaska and Hawaii:
“Subject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary may exempt individuals in a noncontiguous State from compliance with the requirements of paragraph (2) if-- (i) the State agency submits to the Secretary a request for that exemption, made in such form and at such time as the Secretary may require, and including the information described in subparagraph (C); and (ii) the Secretary determines that based on that request, the State agency is demonstrating a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of paragraph (2).”
“An exemption granted under subparagraph (B) shall expire not later than December 31, 2028, and may not be renewed beyond that date.”
FNS: Time Limit Waivers · FNS: One Big Beautiful Bill Act implementation memoranda
Optional exception checklist
This checklist is a reading of the federal rule, using the Public Law 119-21 list and the FNS notes above. It is not an eligibility decision and it does not replace the state agency's screening.
Frequently asked questions
Who is exempt from SNAP work requirements?
The general work requirements and the time limit have different exemptions. Under 7 CFR 273.7(b)(1), the general work requirements do not apply to eight listed kinds of person, among them “A person younger than 16 years of age or a person 60 years of age or older.” The time limit is different: Public Law 119-21 section 10102(a) says it does not apply to an individual who is “under 18, or over 65, years of age”, “medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment”, “a parent or other member of a household with responsibility for a dependent child under 14 years of age”, “otherwise exempt under subsection (d)(2)”, “a pregnant woman”, an Indian or an Urban Indian, or a California Indian as the law defines them. The FNA Questions and Answers #1 of June 11, 2026 say the dependent child must be part of the same SNAP household, and the FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 says individuals aged 18 to 64 are subject to the time limit unless they meet another exception. The state agency decides each person’s case.
What is the age range for the SNAP time limit?
The FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 says: “The OBBB increases the age of those subject to the time limit to age 64.” That puts the range at 18 through 64, unless an exception applies. Public Law 119-21 section 10102(a) words the exception as “under 18, or over 65, years of age”. When we checked on November 4, 2026, 7 CFR 273.24(c)(1) on the eCFR (up to date as of November 2, 2026, last amended January 17, 2025) still read “Under 18 or 55 years of age or older”. The same FNS memorandum says individuals aged 60 or older remain exempt from the general work requirements, so a person aged 60 to 64 can be subject to the time limit without being subject to the general work requirements.
Are veterans, homeless people and former foster youth exempt from the SNAP time limit?
The FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 says: “The OBBB removes the temporary exceptions for the following populations, which were added by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA):” homeless individuals, veterans, and individuals aged 24 or younger and in foster care on their 18th birthday. It adds that they are subject to the time limit unless they meet another exception. When we checked on November 4, 2026, the eCFR text of 7 CFR 273.24(c)(7) to (9) (up to date as of November 2, 2026) still listed all three, and the FNS SNAP Work Requirements page captured October 22, 2026 still listed them while saying “We are in the process of providing guidance on how The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changes the work requirements for SNAP able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).” The state agency decides each person’s case.
When did the SNAP work requirement changes take effect?
The FNS memorandum of October 3, 2025 says that the changes “were effective upon enactment, July 4, 2025.” It adds that state agencies must immediately screen for and apply the modified exception criteria to all initial applications and recertification applications. It also says “FNS will, as appropriate, hold States harmless for Quality Control (QC) purposes for 120 days from the required implementation date.” and gives November 1, 2025 as the end date of that exclusionary period for the provisions it lists. The memorandum describes state agency duties; it does not say which individual cases a state agency has reviewed.
Do SNAP time limit waivers exist, and which states have one?
The FNS Time Limit Waivers page, captured August 28, 2026, says: “The Food and Nutrition Act allows states to ask us to temporarily waive the time limit for individuals living in areas that have an unemployment rate of over 10%.” It adds that Alaska and Hawaii can also request a waiver for areas with unemployment rates 1.5 times the national average, and “However, a time limit waiver does not waive the general SNAP work requirements.” Which areas have a waiver, and from when, depends on each state agency’s request and FNS approval; that FNS page links waiver status by state by fiscal quarter, and FedRateCalc does not state any state’s status.
Is a person aged 60 to 64 who receives Social Security exempt from the SNAP time limit?
Not automatically. The FNA Questions and Answers #1 of June 11, 2026 say: “Not necessarily. The Act does not provide an exception from the time limit for individuals receiving Social Security benefits.” The same document says that “an individual receiving disability benefits, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), would indicate the individual is medically certified as physically or mentally unfit for employment per 7 CFR 273.24(c)(2)(i).” Whether an exception applies in a given case is decided by the state agency.
What counts as meeting the SNAP work requirement for the time limit?
Under 7 CFR 273.24(a)(1) (eCFR, up to date as of November 2, 2026), fulfilling the work requirement means working 20 hours per week averaged monthly, which the regulation says is 80 hours a month, taking part in a work program 20 hours per week, any combination of the two for 20 hours per week in total, or taking part in a workfare program. The regulation says individuals are not eligible if they received SNAP benefits for “more than three countable months during any three-year period”, except that individuals may be eligible for up to three additional countable months under paragraph (e).
Related pages
Sources
All sources are government documents, read when we checked on November 4, 2026, except the pages marked below, which were read from exact Internet Archive captures of the agency page on the date shown. FNS pages from 2026 carry the agency name Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA).
- Public Law 119-21 (July 4, 2025), section 10102, enacted text on govinfo
- 7 CFR 273.24, time limit for able-bodied adults (eCFR, up to date as of November 2, 2026)
- 7 CFR 273.7, work provisions (eCFR, up to date as of November 2, 2026)
- USDA FNS, SNAP Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025: ABAWD Exceptions Implementation Memorandum (October 3, 2025) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 11, 2026)
- USDA FNA, SNAP Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025: Time Limit Changes, Questions and Answers #1 (June 11, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of June 11, 2026)
- USDA FNS, SNAP Work Requirements (page updated July 16, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 22, 2026)
- USDA FNS, Time Limit Waivers (page updated July 16, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of August 28, 2026)
- USDA FNS, One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (page updated June 11, 2026) (read from the Internet Archive capture of October 24, 2026)
SNAP income limits by state covers the income side of eligibility.