SNAP work requirements now apply to adults up to age 64, not just 55, after a federal rule change took effect June 1, 2026. Older adults who were previously exempt must now log qualifying work activity or risk losing food assistance.
What Changed on June 1
Before this year, SNAP’s "able-bodied adults without dependents" (ABAWD) work rule stopped applying at age 55. Starting June 1, 2026, that exemption age rose to 64. Adults ages 18 through 64 who don’t meet one of the law’s specific exceptions must now work or participate in a qualifying work activity for at least 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month, to keep receiving benefits.
The change comes from the 2025 federal reconciliation law that rewrote several SNAP eligibility rules this year, alongside a separate change — effective April 1, 2026 — that narrowed which non-citizens can qualify for the program at all.
Who Is Affected
The rule targets adults without dependents in their household who don’t already qualify for an exception. Common exceptions include people who are medically certified as unable to work, pregnant, caring for a child under a certain age, or already meeting work requirements through employment or an approved training program.
Someone who is 55 to 64 and was previously exempt purely because of age no longer qualifies for that exemption on its own. They now need to either work the required hours, enroll in a qualifying work program, or meet a different exception to keep their benefits.
The Broader Participation Drop
The work-requirement expansion isn’t happening in isolation. Nationwide SNAP participation fell by more than 4.5 million people — about 11% — between July 2025 and April 2026, according to tracking by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, as the reconciliation law’s provisions have phased in.
What To Do If You’re Newly Subject to the Rule
Contact your state SNAP office if you’re unsure whether you now fall under the work requirement — eligibility exceptions are determined case by case, and documentation (medical, caregiving, or program enrollment) needs to be on file before a compliance review, not after. States generally allow enrollment in an approved employment and training program to count toward the hour requirement, which can be an alternative for people who can’t find qualifying paid work right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this affect the benefit amount, or just eligibility?
Just eligibility. It doesn’t change how much a qualifying household receives — it changes who has to prove work activity to keep receiving anything at all.
I turned 55 this year and was told I was exempt before — am I now required to work?
Yes, unless you meet a different exception (disability, caregiving, pregnancy, or another category your state recognizes). The blanket age-55 exemption no longer applies on its own.
Is this the same rule in every state?
The 20-hours-a-week/80-hours-a-month standard is federal, but how states verify and enforce it — and what counts as a qualifying work activity — can vary. Check with your state SNAP agency for local procedure.