New SNAP Work Requirements

What the New SNAP Rules Mean

**Overview**

A wide-ranging tax and spending package signed into law by President Donald Trump in July brought significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including tougher participation requirements for many adult recipients.

Under the updated law, certain SNAP participants must now work, volunteer, or take part in approved job-training programs for at least 80 hours each month. Individuals who fail to meet this requirement may receive benefits for only three months within a three-year period.

Previously, these rules applied only to able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 54 who did not have dependent children. The new legislation expands the policy to include adults ages 55 through 64, as well as parents whose children are 14 years old or older.

The changes mark a broader shift in eligibility standards and are expected to affect thousands of SNAP recipients nationwide.

The new law also removes long-standing work exemptions for people experiencing homelessness, military veterans, and young adults who recently exited the foster care system. In addition, it narrows states’ flexibility to suspend work requirements in regions where employment opportunities are scarce.

When the Changes Take Effect

The rollout of the new requirements varies by state and depends on when each state adopts the updated rules. In some states, individuals who cannot verify that they are meeting the work standards could begin losing SNAP benefits as early as this weekend. Other states are allowing a longer transition period before enforcement begins.

What SNAP Recipients Should Know

SNAP participants who fall under the expanded work rules will need to provide extra documentation to remain eligible, according to guidance from AARP. Those who have not yet been notified by mail, phone, or text are encouraged to contact their local SNAP office directly to confirm their status and requirements.

State-by-State Impact

Texas: Texas implemented the new work requirements in October. As a result, some recipients in the state may have already seen their benefits end after reaching the three-month limit on January 1.

In states such as Ohio and Illinois, the expanded work requirements are set to begin on Sunday. As a result, affected SNAP recipients in those states could start losing benefits as early as May. Ohio officials have indicated that individuals will be required to provide proof of employment or qualifying activities beginning in March.

Some states have been able to delay enforcement due to higher unemployment levels, either statewide or in specific areas. These exemptions allow temporary waivers of the work rules. California, for example, currently has a waiver that is scheduled to remain in effect through January 2027.

However, most of these waivers have already expired or are expected to end soon, bringing more states under the new requirements.

SNAP Participation by the Numbers

Approximately 42 million people—roughly one in eight Americans—receive SNAP benefits. Most recipients live in households with incomes below the federal poverty threshold, which is about $33,000 annually for a family of four.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, about 60 percent of SNAP participants are in families with children, and more than one-third live in households that include older adults or individuals with disabilities. Nearly 40 percent are in households where at least one person is employed.

On average, SNAP recipients receive about $190 per person each month.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the expanded work requirements will reduce average monthly SNAP enrollment by roughly 2.4 million people over the next decade.