SNAP Time Limits and Work Requirements: What You Need to Know
Federal law limits the amount of time individuals without dependents or a documented disability can receive SNAP benefits. The “One, Big Beautiful Bill” passed by President Trump will expand who these time limits apply to. Starting in the fall of 2025, time limits will newly apply to many older adults ages 55-64 and parents whose children are older than 13.
Three month time limit:
If you are between the ages of 18-64, do not have a child age 13 or younger in your household, and do not have a physical or mental disability that would prevent you from working you are considered an Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD).
ABAWDs who are not meeting federally defined Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work reporting requirements will only be eligible for those benefits (“food stamps”) for 3 months in a 3-year period.
If you use up the full 3 month time limit and lose your benefits, you may reapply once you become able meet the requirement.
You may qualify for a second 3 month time limit if you met the work requirement, but are no longer meeting the requirement. (For example, you received SNAP for three months, lost your benefits, found a job and worked for 6 months, but are now unemployed – you might be able to get SNAP for another 3 months without meeting the requirement.
The Work Reporting Requirements:
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Working for pay at least 80 hours/month – roughly 20 hours/week; OR
Participating in an eligible work or education program for at least 20 hours/week; OR
Volunteering through community service; OR
Having one of the exemptions listed below.
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Age 17 or younger, or age 65 or older
Living with any child age 13 or younger in your SNAP household (does not have to be your own child)
Receiving a disability benefit such as SSI, Social Security Disability, Medicaid disability, VA needs-based pension payments,
Working 30 hours per week or earning $870 per month (you are exempt from ongoing reporting requirements and monitoring for your full recertification period.)
Have a temporary or permanent mental or physical health condition that makes working steady hours. You can use this form, signed by a licensed medical practitioner, counselor, or provider to verify your condition.
Caring for an ill or incapacitated household member or relative
Pregnant
In a drug or alcohol treatment program
Receiving or have applied for Unemployment Insurance
Expecting to return to work within 60 days
Enrolled as a student at least half-time (must meet separate rules for college students)
A victim of domestic violence
Experiencing Homelessness, which can include:
Lacking a fixed and regular nighttime residence OR
Your primary nighttime residence is:
a shelter (intended to provide temporary living accommodations).
a halfway house or other institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized.
a temporary accommodation in the residence of another individual, such as couch surfing (“temporary” is defined as no longer than 90 days in one specific residence).
a public or private place not designed for sleeping — parks, benches, etc.
If I am in the ABAWD category, how can I make sure to keep my SNAP benefits?
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If you are working but are working less than 20 hours per week, talk to your employer to see if you can increase your work hours. You can also participate in an eligible job training or work program for at least 20 hours per week. You can also combine work hours with hours in a SNAP work training program to meet the 20 hour requirement. Talk with your PA Department of Human Services (DHS) caseworker to learn more about your options. Work training programs include support for transportation and supplies. You can learn more about SNAP programs at this PA DHS webpage: Employment Training for SNAP.
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You can ask your caseworker about enrolling in the KEYS program to meet your work requirement. KEYS is a program at community colleges that can include GED classes, non-credit certification programs, or college level courses, and provides support throughout your enrollment. KEYS participants receive support for transportation, books, and supplies.
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Volunteer at an eligible non-profit or community organization to “work for benefits.” The required hours are found by dividing your total SNAP benefit by the state minimum wage of $7.25/hour. For example, if you are receiving the maximum amount of food stamps — $292 for a single person — you will need to serve an average of 40 hours per month ($292 / $7.25 = 40 hours per month or about 10 hours per week. You can use the handy calculator on this page to figure out how many hours of community service you would need to do based on the benefit level for your SNAP household.) If you want to do community service to meet your hours, talk to your DHS caseworker.
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Yes. The Department of Human Services (DHS) can give you Special Allowances (SPAL’s) to help you meet the requirement. SPAL’s include things like: money for transportation (bus passes or gas cards), clothing (if specific clothing is necessary for the work program), and supplies, books, or tools needed for education, work, or community service. These allowances must be requested and approved before their purchase, and verification (receipts) must be provided.
Resources
The information that's on this page about the new food stamps work requirements in a downloadable print-ready handout.
This questionnaire from the PA Department of Human Services will help you figure out if you are exempt from the food stamps work requirement.
Use this form, signed by a doctor or other medical professional, to show that you have a mental or physical disability, you are pregnant, you are in a mental health counseling program, or you are in a drug or alcohol treatment program.