ABAWD Work Requirements
An ABAWD is a person between the ages of 18 and 54 who has no dependents and is not disabled. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) limits the receipt of SNAP benefits to 3 months in a 36-month period for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are not working at least 80 hours per month, participating in qualifying education and training activities at least 80 hours per month, or complying with a workfare program.
Individuals are exempt from the time limit if they are:
- Under 18 years or age, or 55 years of age or older.
- An adult in a SNAP household with a child under 18 years of age.
- A full-time caretaker of an incapacitated person.
- A pregnant woman.
- Physically or mentally unable to work at least 80 hours month.
- Determined to be unable to work due to substance abuse.
- A recipient of Veterans Affairs disability compensation.
- A recipient of disability benefits from a public or private source, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or NYS disability benefits.
- A recipient or pending receipt of Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB).
- A student enrolled in any recognized school, job skills training, or institution of higher education (at least half-time) and meeting the student eligibility criteria to receive SNAP.
- An applicant for SNAP benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) jointly or in receipt of SSI.
- Employed or self-employed and working at least 30 hours per week or receiving weekly earnings at least equal to the federal minimum wage times 30 (currently $217.50 per week).
- A homeless individual
- A veteran
- An individual who is 24 years of age or younger and in foster care on their 18th birthday
Update -- October 2024
New York State has received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a statewide waiver of the federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit through February 28, 2025. Therefore, ABAWDs residing in all areas of NYS are not subject to the ABAWD requirements through February 28, 2025.
General SNAP Work Rules
A person must:
- Accept any job offer received, unless there is a good reason they can’t.
- Tell us about their job and how much they are working.
- Not quit their job without having a good cause if they work 30 or more hours a week or earn the equivalent of 30 hours times the federal minimum wage (currently $217.50 per week). Also, a person who works 30 hours a week and earns the equivalent of 30 hours times the federal minimum wage should not reduce their work hours so that their earnings would fall below that amount.
- Participate in work activities as assigned by us.
Exemptions
Conditions that may excuse a person from the General SNAP Work Rules:
- Younger than 16 or 60 years of age or older
- 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 reason
- Taking care of a child younger than 6 that lives in the household
- Taking care of an incapacitated person
- Meeting the work rules under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program
- Receiving or pending receipt 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 a week
- Already earning $217.50 (30 times the federal minimum wage) or more a week
- In receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Applying for SSI
Consequences
If someone who must follow the General SNAP Work Rules, does not do so:
- The first time a person does not follow the General SNAP Work Rules, they can’t get SNAP benefits for 1 month.
- The second time a person does not follow the General SNAP Work Rules, they can’t get SNAP benefits for 3 months.
- The third and any additional time after that, a person does not follow the General SNAP Work Rules, they can’t get SNAP benefits for 6 months.
- And, if the person is not excused from following the SNAP work rules, the person must follow these rules before they can get SNAP benefits again. Also, the person must meet all other eligibility requirements before receiving SNAP again.