The ABAWD Work Requirement and Time Limit

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).

You can meet the ABAWD work requirement by doing any one of these things:

Work at least 80 hours a month. Work can be for pay, for goods or services (for something other than money), unpaid, or as a volunteer;

Participate in a work program at least 80 hours a month. A work program could be SNAP Employment and Training or another federal, state, or local work program;

Participate in a combination of work and work program hours for a total of at least 80 hours a month;

Participate in workfare for the number of hours assigned to you each month (the number of hours will depend on the amount of your SNAP benefit.)

You are excused from the ABAWD work requirement and time limit if you are any one of these things:

Unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation;

Pregnant;

Have someone under 18 in your SNAP household;

Excused from the general work requirements (see above);

A veteran;

Experiencing homelessness;

Age 24 or younger and in foster care on your 18 th birthday.

If you have to meet the ABAWD work requirement but you don’t, you will lose your benefits after three months. To get SNAP again, you must meet the ABAWD work requirement for a 30-day period or become excused. Otherwise, you need to wait until the end of your three-year period, when you’ll get another three months under the time limit.