By law, certain adults without dependents can only receive SNAP benefits beyond three months in a three-year period unless they meet specific work requirements. We refer to this as the “time limit.”
Here are some resources to find out more about SNAP ABAWDs and related information.
SNAP state agencies must establish procedures to screen for and apply the general work requirements and ABAWD work requirements and time limit. The SNAP Work Rules Screening Checklists and Flow Chart were developed to assist SNAP state agency staff in determining if an individual is subject to any of the SNAP work requirements.
ABAWDs can receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 3-year period if they do not meet certain work requirements. This page includes information on waiver status for states by quarter.
ABAWDs can receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 3-year period if they do not meet certain work requirements. This page includes information on waiver status for FY 2020-24 by state.
The purpose of this guide is to consolidate guidance and policy on serving able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).
FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2024. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.
FNS is issuing this second set of questions and answers in response to inquiries received from SNAP state agencies concerning implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
The market basket costs in the Thrifty Food Plan, 2021 apply to the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. By law, the USDA must make cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan to reflect the cost of food in Alaska and Hawaii. The Thrifty Food Plan Cost Estimates for Alaska and Hawaii report provides updated estimates of the June 2022 cost of the reevaluated Thrifty Food Plan in Alaska and Hawaii.
FNS is issuing this set of questions and answers in response to inquiries received from SNAP state agencies concerning implementation of Section 311 (a), Section 311 (b), and Section 314 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.