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.”
This proposed rule would amend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations to incorporate three provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
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.
States annually update Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) to reflect changes in utility costs. When determining a household’s eligibility, states consider a household’s total shelter costs, including the cost of utilities. Since actual utility costs are often hard to determine, states can use SUAs, which are standard amounts that represent low-income household utility costs in the state or local area. SUAs may be used in lieu of the household's actual costs when determining eligibility and benefit amount.
We adjust SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each federal fiscal year.
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.