SNAP Work Requirements

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General Work Requirements

General Work Requirements include the following:

1. Work registration
2. Bona Fide Job offer
3. Voluntary quit or reduction of hours to less than 30 hours per week
4. Employment First Work Requirements​
   
   

You must follow these Basic Work Rules to keep your SNAP benefits:

1. Accept any job offer working over 30 hours a week or making 217.50 a week, unless there is a good reason you cannot.
2. If you have a job, do not quit your job or choose to work less than 30 hours each week without having a good reason, such as getting sick, being discriminated against, or not getting paid.
3. Tell DHHS about your job and how much you are working, if asked which includes at initial application, recertification and during the certification period according to your reporting requirements.

ABAWD Work Requirements

SNAP recipients who are Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) must meet work requirements to receive benefits. These include individuals who are:

• Between the ages of 18 and 64
• Do not have a dependent aged 13 or younger
• Physically and mentally able to work

How to Meet SNAP Work Requirements

Spend at least 20 hours a week or an average of 80 hours each month doing one or more of the following activities:

1. Working,
2. Participating in a job program or similar activities we approved, or
3. Volunteering.
4. A combination of working and volunteering.

Exemptions from SNAP Work Requirements

SNAP work requirement exemptions may allow you to continue receiving SNAP without having to meet mandatory work activities or be subject to the ABAWD time-limit. You may be exempt if any of the following apply:

• You are younger than age 18, or age 65 or older;
• You are working 30 hours or more per week or earning more than $217.50 per week before taxes;
• You are enrolled at least half-time in school, training, or higher education;
• Someone in your SNAP household is under the age of 14;
• You cannot work 20 hours or more weekly for physical or mental health reasons;
• You are pregnant;
• You are an Indian, Urban Indian, California Indian, or other Indian eligible for Indian Health Services;
• You reside in Thurston County, the Winnebago Reservation, or the Omaha Reservation;
  
• You are receiving unemployment or applied for unemployment and are required to register for work, or appealing the denial of unemployment:
  
• You are a chemically dependent person who is participating in a chemical dependency treatment or rehabilitation program.​
  

Exemption verification may be required. 

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What happens if you do not follow the time-limited ABAWD rules?

Each month you receive SNAP benefits and do not meet the ABAWD time limit rule, it will be tracked. After three full months, you will lose your SNAP benefits for up to 36 months from when the tracking started. You may qualify for an exemption if you believe you have a good cause for not meeting the ABAWD time limit rule.

Pre-Screener Tool

Coming Soon

Need help finding a program to potentially meet the Work Requirements? 

SNAP Next Step E&T may be able to help.

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Note: These requirements are separate from the Medicaid work requirements. If you are already compliant with the SNAP work requirements, you do not need to meet the Medicaid work requirements. To learn more, visit the Medicaid Work Requirements page.

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