Starting November 2, 2025, a sweeping rule change will require “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWDs) to prove at least 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, education or training if they wish to continue receiving SNAP benefits beyond three months in a three-year period.
This shift—driven by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—eradicates many of the previous waivers and loosens exemption thresholds, placing millions of low-income Americans at risk of losing food assistance.
What’s Changing: Hard Work Rules Return under New SNAP Rule
1. Target Group & Age Range
- The new rule applies to adults aged 18 to 64 who are **able-bodied and have no dependents under 14.
- Previously, exemptions or waivers often covered recipients up to age 54 and those with dependents under 18; now those protections narrow.
- Certain categories remain exempt: those unable to work, pregnant, disabled, veterans, homeless, or under other recognized hardship.
- The USDA’s SNAP policy page now lays out the ABAWD work requirement explicitly: 80 hours per month via employment, approved programs, volunteering, or combined activity.
2. What Counts Toward the 80 Hours
Recipients may qualify under several categories:
- Paid employment (traditional job)
- Volunteering or community service
- Enrollment in educational or vocational training programs
- Participation in SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) programs or approved work programs
States will require documentation or certification each month to prove compliance. Failure to do so for three months in a 3-year cycle triggers loss of benefits unless exemptions apply.
3. Waivers & Exemptions, and Their Removal
- The waiver system, which allowed states to suspend strict work requirements in high-unemployment regions, is being phased out early (originally set to expire in February 2026, now moved to November 2025).
- Exemptions will tighten: caregiving exemption limited to dependents under 14 (rather than under 18), and certain groups like veterans or those formerly in foster care may lose blanket protection in some states.
Impact & Administration- New SNAP Rule
1. Scale & Risk
- According to projections, millions of SNAP recipients could be affected by these new rules. Estimates suggest around 4 million people monthly will lose eligibility if they fail to meet or prove requirements.
- In New York, counties like Allegany (≈5,000 SNAP recipients) and Steuben (≈12,000) are scrambling to identify, notify, and track compliance.
2. Administrative Burden & Timeline
- County social service offices must reclassify recipients, issue notices, and establish new tracking systems—often with limited staff and tight deadlines.
- In New York, counties were informed to begin enforcement next month, under the directive that counties expand coverage to 18–54 first, then to the 18–64 range as rules rollover.
- Many agencies must reassign staff, extend hours, or hire temporary workers to manage the volume of evaluations, appeals, and audits.
- Some counties anticipated needing to expand staff from ~15 to ~39 for SNAP work rule implementation alone.
Key Features & Figures (New SNAP Rule)
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effective Date | November 2, 2025 |
| Monthly Hour Requirement | 80 hours |
| Affected Age Range | 18–64 without dependents under 14 |
| Duration Limit Without Compliance | 3 months in 3 years |
| Exemptions Include | Disability, pregnancy, veterans, homelessness, dependent care in many cases |
| Estimated Number Affected | ~4 million people monthly |
| Impact on Counties | Need to notify, screen, track compliance, administer appeals |
| Waivers Removed | USDA waiver flexibility eliminated early, waiver option ends November 2025 |
Criticism, Debate & Risks about New SNAP Rule
- Advocates argue the rule punishes those who already face barriers: unreliable transportation, limited job opportunities in rural areas, caregiving burdens, or unpredictable work schedules.
- Critics say enforcing strict work documentation may cost more in administration and appeals than savings earned by cutting benefits.
- Some research suggests SNAP work requirements deter participation without significantly boosting employment outcomes, particularly among populations with structural disadvantages.
- Political debates center on whether aid should be purely needs-based or tied to productive engagement.
This new mandate marks a dramatic shift in how SNAP benefits are administered — blending support with accountability. While proponents argue that it will incentivize labor and reduce dependency, the execution risks leaving thousands dangerously short of vital food support.
County agencies across the U.S. now face a race against time: to communicate, track, adjudicate, and implement these rules without causing widespread disruption.
For many recipients, meeting this requirement will mean navigating uneven access to work opportunities, unpredictable jobs, and administrative barriers.
In the coming months, the human cost—in food insecurity, appeals, and lost benefits—will test whether the policy succeeds in its goals or becomes a harsh new hurdle for vulnerable households.
FAQs
Who must comply with this new SNAP rule?
Able-bodied adults aged 18–64 without dependent children must meet the 80-hour requirement or qualify for an exemption.
What counts toward the 80 hours under New SNAP Rule?
Work, volunteering, training/education programs, or a combination of these—if documented properly.
What happens if someone fails to meet it under New SNAP Rule?
They may lose SNAP eligibility after three months unless they later meet the requirement or qualify for an exemption.
