FNS Documents & Resources

ABAWDs can get SNAP for only 3 months in a 3-year period if they do not meet certain extra work requirements. This page includes information on waiver status for FY 2010-14 by state.

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 2015-19 by state.

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service and U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration partner to support able-bodied adults without dependents through the public workforce system as the Public Health Emergency ends.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act suspended the time limit and work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) until July 1, 2023. This memorandum discusses requirements for state agencies related to notifying households about the ABAWD time limit and work requirement before ABAWDs become subject to the time limit again.

This memorandum adjusts the total number of exemptions available to each state for FY 2023. This includes increases in the number of exemptions available to states in which caseloads increased by more than 10 percent.

In preparation for the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, FNS is sharing critical decision points and important resources state agencies should reference as they plan to reinstate the ABAWD time-limit. 

This was a live-streamed session at the 2022 SNAP E&T National Forum. Emerging from the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) will require state agencies to eventually resume enforcing the time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs).

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2023. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.

This memorandum adjusts the total number of exemptions available to each state for FY 2022. This includes increases in the number of exemptions available to states in which caseloads increased by more than 10 percent.

FNS has estimated the number of new discretionary exemptions each state has earned for FY 2022. States that operated under a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit did not earn any new exemptions.