Frequently Asked Questions: SNAP work requirements

Work requirements are rules for certain — but not all — SNAP (food stamps) recipients. You might need to work, volunteer, or do job training for a certain number of hours each month to keep your benefits.

In general, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers don’t have to meet work requirements. HRA will inform you if you or anyone in your household needs to meet SNAP work requirements. 

If you do have work requirements, there are two types: 

General work requirements apply to most able-bodied adults who aren’t in school, caring for someone else, or receiving unemployment benefits or SSI.

ABAWD requirements apply only to “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWDs). 

If you are an adult without dependents (ages 13 and under), you can only get SNAP for three months in three years without meeting these requirements. 

To keep getting SNAP benefits, you need to:

• Work a paid job for 80 hours per month
• Participate in an HRA-approved work experience program, or 
• Volunteer for community service

To calculate your required hours for work programs or volunteer opportunities: 

Required hours = your monthly SNAP benefit amount ÷ $16.50 (NY State minimum wage)

If you don’t meet this requirement for any three months in a 36-month (three-year) period, your SNAP benefits will stop. You can become eligible for SNAP again if you show that you’re meeting the required hours or if you’re no longer an ABAWD. 

Work requirements apply to most people between 16 and 64 years old who are able to work. 

General work requirements apply if you’re ages 16 to 59 and have no major health issues or caregiving responsibilities that make it hard to work. You can be exempt if you’re:

• Already working at least 30 hours per week or earning at least $217.50 per week,
• Studying at least half-time,
• Getting unemployment benefits,
• Participating in addiction treatment,
• Meeting TANF (cash assistance) work requirements, or 
• Getting SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

ABAWD work requirements apply if you’re ages 18 to 64 and don’t have a disability or a child under 14. 

You’re exempt if you’re:

• Pregnant,
• Unable to work 80 hours per month because of  a documented physical or mental disability, or 
• Living with someone under 14

Not necessarily. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities don’t have to work. They can keep receiving SNAP benefits even if other household members don’t meet requirements.

HRA will inform you if you or anyone in your household needs to meet SNAP work requirements.

Starting March 2026, the following groups will need to follow ABAWD work requirements:

• Able-bodied adults ages 55 to 64 who do not live with any kids under 14 years old
• Caretakers for kids 14 years and older
• Veterans
• Former foster care youth ages 23 and under
• People experiencing homelessness

If you do not receive a Work Activity Letter by mail or through ACCESS HRA, you do not have to report work activities— just follow the regular recertification process.  Your ACCESS HRA account will also update under “Case Details”  for your SNAP household to show if you’re considered an ABAWD under the new definition.

Sign up for text and email alerts in your ACCESS HRA account to make sure you do not miss a SNAP notice. To view your SNAP notices, sign into ACCESS HRA and select “E-notices” from the menu. To update your contact info (phone, email, and mailing address), sign into ACCESS HRA. Then, click the dropdown menu in the top right corner and select “Profile.”

Any of the following types of work count toward the 80-hour monthly requirement: 

• Paid or in-kind (for services instead of cash) work
• HRA-approved work/training programs
• Work-study at a college or university
• Veteran employment programs
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs
• Community service or volunteer experience approved by HRA

Report new work activities through ACCESS HRA

If you’re about to start or just started a paid job, file a “Case Change Report” to report your work hours. 

Meet with an HRA career services provider to find a work activity

Starting the week of October 20, 2025, ABAWDs will receive appointment notices to meet with an HRA career services provider. You can meet remotely or in person. 

The good news is that your career services provider will report your work activities and upload documents for you. You don’t need to report them separately for cash assistance or SNAP. 

Yes. Remote work and in-person work both count toward your 80-hour monthly requirement.

Yes. Contract and gig work count if you:

• Earn at least $217.50 per week
• Work 20+ hours per week (80 hours monthly)

Documents that count as proof of work:

• Pay stubs
• Employer letters stating your hours and pay
• Receipts or statements from volunteer work
• Letters from training or job programs
• Any document showing your work hours and earnings

How to submit proof:

1. Report your job and pay information using the SNAP Case Change feature in ACCESS HRA
2. Upload proof documents using the ACCESS HRA app

When to submit:

• Report changes within 10 days of your hours or earnings dropping below requirements
• If you have a recertification appointment or are due for a periodic report, include information about your work then
• You can submit anytime — don’t wait

If you have a medical or mental health condition or a learning challenge that makes it hard for you to use the ACCESS HRA app, help is available. Call (718) 557-1399 and ask about HRA accommodations. 

October/November 2025: HRA will inform you if you’re an ABAWD.

March 2026: Start reporting work hours. This is the first month that counts towards the three-month time limit.

June 2026: If you haven’t reported work hours for three months (March, April, May), you’ll lose SNAP benefits.

Remember: You can get SNAP for three months over a three-year period without meeting work requirements. After that, you lose benefits until the three-year period ends in October 2026.

You will receive an ABAWD Work Activity Letter notice in the mail if you or anyone in your household is subject to ABAWD work requirements. 

You’ll also receive notices in your ACCESS HRA account. Sign in and select “E-notices” to view them.

If you signed up for alerts, you’ll get a text or email when HRA posts a new notice.

To update your contact info (phone, email, and mailing address), sign into ACCESS HRA. Then, click the dropdown menu in the top right corner and select “Profile.”

Yes. If you are an ABAWD, you will receive a Work Activity Letter and a letter with an appointment date with an HRA career services provider. If you are a new SNAP applicant, the appointment notice will arrive around two weeks after your application is processed. 

Yes. These SNAP work requirement changes are now federal law and will remain in place unless Congress changes the law again.

They won’t automatically end with a new presidential administration.

You’re considered “able-bodied” if you do not have a physical or mental health condition preventing you from working 20 hours per week, and you’re not pregnant. 

No, any physical or mental health condition — temporary or permanent —  injury, or illness that prevents you from working 20 hours per week exempts you from work requirements. You do not need a specific diagnosis or Social Security disability status.

How to document your disability:

Ask your healthcare provider to complete an ABAWD Medical Statement form and submit it to HRA.

Who can sign the form: Doctors, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, osteopaths, psychologists, substance use counselors, mental health counselors, social workers, or certified midwives.

What the form asks:

• Are you pregnant?
• Are you in substance use treatment or counseling?
• Do you have a temporary or permanent health condition that limits your ability to work 20+ hours per week (80 hours monthly)? If yes, for how long?

How to submit the form:

Upload in the ACCESS HRA mobile app, or send to:

• Fax: 917-639-2544
• Mail: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, P.O. Box 29008, Brooklyn, NY 11202

Write your name and case number on each page.

If you have a medical or mental health condition or a learning challenge that makes it hard for you to use the ACCESS HRA app, help is available. Call (718) 557-1399 and ask about HRA accommodations. 

You do NOT have to meet work requirements if you receive:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Veterans disability benefits
• New York State disability benefits

Your work requirements depend on who you’re caring for and their age. 

HRA will inform you if you do not have to meet SNAP work requirements because you’re caring for a child or because of your age.

Ages 65 and older are not affected by any work requirements.

Ages 60–64: You’re exempt from general work requirements, but starting March 2026, you must follow ABAWD work requirements if you don’t have children under 14 in your household, don’t have a disability, don’t receive SSI,  or aren’t in school half-time.

While pregnant, you need to meet general work requirements but you are exempt from ABAWD work requirements. 

After your baby is born:

• You’re exempt from general work requirements until your child turns 6
• You’re exempt from ABAWD work requirements until your child turns 14

Once your child reaches these ages, work requirements apply (unless you have another exemption).

Report the birth right away to increase your benefit amount. You can apply for WIC as soon as you know you’re pregnant—eligibility starts before birth.