Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Rules

Who is an ABAWD?

An ABAWD is a person who is:

• Aged 18 to 64,
• Not living with a child under 14, and
• Able to work.

Does everyone need to follow the ABAWD work rules?

No. You might not have to follow the ABAWD work rules, if:

• You are younger than age 18, or age 65 or older,
• Someone in your household is younger than age 14,
• You receive disability benefits from a public or private source, such as Veterans Affairs or New York State disability benefits,
• You are pregnant,
• You are unable to work at least 80 hours per month because of a physical or mental health reason,
• You are an Indian, Urban Indian, California Indian, or other Indian eligible for the Indian Health Services, or
• You are excused from the General SNAP Work Rules because you are:
  • A 16 or 17-year-old who is not the head of the household or who is in school or in an employment program at least half-time,
  • Unable to work because of a mental or physical health reason,
  • Taking care of a child younger than age 6,
  • Taking care of an incapacitated person,
  • Meeting the work rules under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,
  • Receiving or applying for unemployment benefits,
  • Participating in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program,
  • Enrolled in a school, training program, or college at least half-time (students may be subject to other eligibility rules),
  • Already working at least 30 hours per week,
  • Already earning $217.50 (30 times the federal minimum wage) or more per week, OR
  • An SSI applicant or recipient.

Call your Local District Contact Number as soon as possible if you think you or someone in your household should be excused from following the ABAWD rules.

What is the ABAWD time limit?

If you are an ABAWD, you must meet the ABAWD work rules to continue receiving SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 3-year period. This is also known as the ABAWD time limit. Once you use up the 3 months and you are not meeting the ABAWD work rules, you will lose your SNAP benefits. In New York, the current 3-year period started on October 1, 2023, and will end on September 30, 2026.

How can you meet the ABAWD work rules?

1. Paid or unpaid work for 20 hours per week (80 hours per month)

   Examples include:

   • Having a job where you work at least 20 hours per week or earn at least $217.50 per week, even if you work less than 20 hours per week.
   • Doing in-kind work by exchanging your services for something other than money for at least 80 hours per month (for example, doing building maintenance in exchange for a reduction in rent).

2. Learn job skills, approved by the social services district for 20 hours per week (80 hours per month), that can help you earn more money.

   Examples include:

   • Doing job searches, workshops on resumé writing, or other training approved by your local district. Some of these activities can be done online at websites like JobZone and Virtual Career Center.
   • Job skills training programs, English language instruction, or educational activities – including college courses, certifications, or credential programs – that help you prepare for work.

3. Community Service/Volunteer

   • The number of hours you would need to participate in community service or volunteer work is based on your SNAP benefit divided by the state minimum wage. For example, if you get $300 in SNAP and the state minimum wage in your area is $16.50, then you have to complete 18 hours of community service or volunteer work each month. ($300 ÷ $16.50 = 18 hours).
   • Volunteer or do a Work Experience Program assignment with local nonprofit or public service organizations (such as food pantries, parks, or libraries).

Call your Local District Contact Number as soon as possible if you are already doing one of these things. Also, if your work hours including paid and unpaid work drop below 80 hours per month, you must let the local district know within 10 days after the end of the month.

Remember: Tell your local district if you earn more than $217.50/week before taxes (even if it is less than 20 hours/week of work). If you do, you are exempt from the ABAWD work rules.

What if you have a good reason for not following these ABAWD work rules?

You may receive SNAP benefits beyond the 3-month time limit if you have a good cause reason for not following the ABAWD work rules or you show that you should be excused from following the ABAWD work rules because you meet one or more of the conditions to be excused. Good cause reasons for not following the rules include issues that a person cannot control, such as getting sick or having a household emergency. These are some examples of good cause reasons but there are others, too. If you claim to have a good cause reason for not following the ABAWD work rules or believe you should be excused from following the rules, you must provide proof if the district asks you to do so. If you believe that you have a good cause reason for not meeting the ABAWD rules, you should call the Local District Contact Number to provide proof.

If you lose your SNAP benefits, how can you get them back?

If you lose your SNAP benefits, because you did not meet the ABAWD work rules, you should call your Local District Contact Number. The district will explain what you need to do to start getting SNAP benefits again. The district must offer you help in meeting the ABAWD work rules to start receiving SNAP benefits again.

General Work Rules for SNAP Recipients

Some people getting SNAP age 16 to 59 must follow the general SNAP work rules. Some adults getting SNAP age 18 to age 64 must also meet the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) rules. SNAP work rules and ABAWD rules can be met by participating in SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) work activities. Many people do not have to meet the SNAP work rules because they are excused. Below, you can learn if you are excused from the general SNAP work rules and the ABAWD rules or how to meet them if you are not excused.

General SNAP Work Rules

What do you need to do to follow the general SNAP work rules?

You must follow these general SNAP work rules to keep your SNAP benefits:

1. Accept any job offer you receive, unless there is a good reason you can’t.

2. If you have a job, don’t quit your job or choose to work less than 30 hours each week without having a good reason, such as getting sick, being discriminated against, or not getting paid.

   Note: You will not lose your SNAP benefits if your hours fall below 30 hours per week and you are still earning $217.50 per week (30 times the federal minimum wage).

3. Tell us about your job and how much you are working.
4. Participate in SNAP E&T work activities if assigned by the district.

Does everyone need to follow these General SNAP Work Rules?

No. You may not have to follow these rules if you are:

• Younger than age 16, or age 60 years or older (Please read the important note below about people aged 60 to 64),
• A 16 or 17-year-old who is not the head of the household or who is in school or in an employment program at least half-time,
• Unable to work because of a mental or physical health reason,
• Taking care of a child younger than age 6,
• Taking care of an incapacitated person,
• Meeting the work rules under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,
• Receiving or applying for unemployment benefits,
• Participating in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program,
• Enrolled in a school, training program, or college at least half-time (students may be subject to other eligibility rules),
• Already working at least 30 hours per week,
• Already earning $217.50 (30 times the federal minimum wage) or more per week, OR
• An SSI applicant or recipient.

Important: If you are between 60 and 64, you don't have to follow the general SNAP work rules. However, if none of the other conditions listed above apply to you, you may still have to follow the ABAWD rules. Find out if you are excused from the ABAWD rules.

What if you think you should be excused from the general SNAP work rules?

Call your Local District Contact Number as soon as possible if you think you or someone in your household should be excused from following the work rules.

What if you have a good cause reason for not following the general SNAP work rules?

Good cause reasons for not following the general SNAP work rules include things that you cannot control such as getting sick, facing a household emergency, or not having childcare. These are some examples of good cause reasons but there are others, too. You must provide proof of any good cause reason when asked by the local district. If you believe you should be excused from following the general SNAP work rules, you must also provide proof, if asked by the district. For example, the district might ask for a statement from your doctor or other documents showing you had a good cause reason for not following the rules or should be excused.

Call your Local District Contact Number as soon as possible if you think you or someone in your household has a good cause reason for not following the work rules.

SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) Assignments

What are SNAP E&T assignments?

The SNAP E&T program can help you and people in your household gain skills and find work. If you are assigned to SNAP E&T, you may be required to participate in supervised job search, job readiness activities, work experience, job skills training, vocational training, educational training, or other work activities. SNAP E&T participants receive case management services to help them reach their employment goals. If the district assigns you or someone in your household to participate in SNAP E&T, they cannot ask you to participate in work activities and/or employment to meet the SNAP work rules for more than 30 hours per week (no more than 120 hours per month). A person may choose to participate in work activities for more than 30 hours per week but cannot be required to do so.

What if you have costs from participating in the SNAP E&T program?

Your local district will pay costs for you or people in your household that are necessary and reasonable to participate in a SNAP E&T activity. These costs may include:

• Transportation
• Childcare
• Personal safety items or equipment
• Other reasonable required costs, such as tools, books, and uniforms

If the district cannot pay your costs to participate in a SNAP E&T assignment, you will be excused from participating. If the district tells you or someone in your household that you must participate in a SNAP E&T work activity, the person must participate. If you do not participate in the SNAP E&T assignment or you quit a job willfully and without a good cause reason, you may lose your SNAP benefits.

What happens if you don’t follow these general SNAP work rules?

You may lose your SNAP benefits if you don’t follow these work rules and you don’t have a good cause reason. If you do not follow the general SNAP work rules or you do not participate in a SNAP E&T assignment, you will be sent a Conciliation Notification. You will be offered a meeting with the district to explain why you did not follow the rules.

If you receive a Conciliation Notification, you must contact the local district by the date on the Conciliation Notification to explain why you did not follow the work rules. If the district decides you had a good cause reason, your household’s SNAP benefits will stay the same. If you did not have a good cause reason, the district will offer you a chance to participate in the same activity you did not complete in order to not lose SNAP benefits. If the district decides that the same activity is not available or is no longer a good fit for you, you may be asked to complete another activity. If you do not complete the activity or prove they had a good cause reason, your household’s SNAP benefits may go down or stop.

How long will you lose your SNAP benefits if you don’t follow these general SNAP work rules or do not complete a SNAP E&T assignment?

• The first time you do not follow these rules, you can’t get SNAP benefits for one month.
• The second time you do not follow these rules, you can’t get SNAP benefits for three months.
• The third time, and any additional time after that, you do not follow these rules, you can’t get SNAP benefits for six months.

If you lose your SNAP benefits because you did not follow the general SNAP work rules or did not complete a SNAP E&T assignment, you must be allowed to start receiving SNAP benefits before the end of the time period noted above if you prove you should be excused from following the general SNAP work rules.

Where can you find additional resources?

For additional resources, visit:

• Local Department of Social Services
• Career Center
• Venture V provider for SNAP Participants