The ABAWD waiver landscape changed significantly in 2025 and 2026. If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) receiving SNAP benefits, whether a waiver covers your county determines whether you face a 3-month time limit on benefits. This guide tracks active waivers, explains the new rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and tells you exactly how to check your status.
Use our free benefits screener to see if you qualify for SNAP and other assistance programs in your area.
What Is an ABAWD Waiver?
ABAWDs are adults aged 18 to 64 who are able-bodied and have no dependent children under 14 in their household. Under federal SNAP rules, ABAWDs can only receive SNAP benefits for 3 months out of any 36-month period unless they meet work requirements of at least 80 hours per month of work, job training, or volunteering.
A waiver suspends this 3-month time limit for residents in a specific geographic area. When a waiver is active in your county or state, you can receive SNAP without meeting the 80-hour monthly requirement, regardless of your work status.
States can apply for waivers in two types of areas:
- Areas where the unemployment rate exceeds 10% (the threshold was raised from approximately 6-7% under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed in July 2025)
- Areas that are specifically approved by USDA based on economic conditions (the "lack of sufficient jobs" criterion, which was repealed by the OBBB Act)
Major Rule Changes in 2025 and 2026
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025)
President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) into law on July 4, 2025. This legislation made the most significant changes to ABAWD rules in decades:
Age expansion: The upper age limit for ABAWD work requirements increased from 54 to 64. Adults aged 55 through 64 who were previously exempt must now meet the 80-hour monthly work requirement or have a qualifying exemption.
Higher waiver threshold: States can no longer get waivers based on the "lack of sufficient jobs" standard. The only remaining waiver basis is a local unemployment rate above 10%, which is significantly harder to qualify for than the previous standard. Alaska and Hawaii have a special exemption through 2028.
Dependent child age change: The caretaker exemption for parents or guardians now only applies if the youngest child in the household is under 14, down from under 18.
Veterans exemption removed: Prior law gave veterans a blanket exemption from ABAWD time limits. The OBBB eliminated that exemption entirely.
Work requirement enforcement start: June 2026 is the first month that SNAP benefits may be terminated for non-compliance with work requirements under the new rules.
Waiver Terminations and Court Reinstatement
In mid-2025, USDA directed states to terminate waivers that had been approved under the now-repealed "lack of sufficient jobs" standard. This triggered a wave of cancellations affecting states that had held statewide waivers for years.
On October 31, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order directing USDA to halt the early termination of these waivers. On February 26, 2026, USDA issued guidance reinstating 18 previously terminated waivers, stating they would remain in effect through their original expiration dates.
Nevada was one of the most affected states. Approximately 43,000 ABAWDs lost SNAP benefits on March 1, 2026 before reinstatement guidance arrived days later on March 3, 2026.
Active ABAWD Waivers in 2026: State and County Tracker
The USDA updates its official waiver list quarterly at fna.usda.gov. The table below reflects the status as of mid-2026 based on USDA data, state agency announcements, and court orders. Verify your specific county's status with your state SNAP agency before making any decisions.
Statewide Waivers (Confirmed Active Through Original Expiration Dates)
| State | Waiver Type | Status | Notes |
|---|
| Rhode Island | Statewide | Active (reinstated) | Reinstated via Feb 2026 court order |
| Nevada | Statewide | Reinstated March 3, 2026 | ~43,000 residents temporarily lost benefits |
| Oregon | Partial statewide | Active (most counties) | Verify individual counties |
| Pennsylvania | Partial statewide | Active (most counties) | Verify individual counties |
| Washington D.C. | Statewide | Active | D.C. maintains its own waiver |
Note: The table above reflects available information as of June 2026. Waiver expiration dates vary by state and depend on the terms of each individual waiver. Contact your state agency for exact expiration dates.
States That Lost Statewide Waivers
| State | Waiver End Date | New Status |
|---|
| California | Statewide ended Nov 1, 2025 | County waivers only (see below) |
| New York | 61 counties lost waiver; statewide waiver removed | Work requirements enforced statewide March 1, 2026 |
| Illinois | Waiver ended November 2025 | Work requirements now in effect |
California County-Level Waivers (Active Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026)
California's statewide CalFresh waiver expired on November 1, 2025. However, seven counties retained individual geographic waivers based on qualifying economic data:
| County | Waiver Period | Status |
|---|
| Alpine | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Colusa | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Imperial | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Merced | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Monterey | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Plumas | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
| Tulare | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Active |
California began enforcing SNAP time limits statewide outside of these seven counties effective June 1, 2026. Residents of all other California counties are subject to the 3-month limit unless they meet work requirements or qualify for an individual exemption.
Discretionary exemptions in California are currently unavailable for FY 2026, meaning counties cannot use that tool to protect individual recipients outside the geographic waiver areas.
How USDA Approves ABAWD Waivers
Under the OBBB Act, the only remaining pathway for a geographic ABAWD waiver is demonstrating that a specific area has an unemployment rate above 10%. Here is how the process works:
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State requests waiver: The state SNAP agency submits a waiver request to USDA's Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) regional office, providing labor market data showing unemployment exceeds 10% in the requested area.
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USDA reviews the request: FNA reviews the data, typically using Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment figures. The review period varies.
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Approval and posting: If approved, USDA posts the waiver at fna.usda.gov/snap/abawd/waivers, organized by fiscal year. The site is updated quarterly.
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State notifies recipients: States are required to notify covered residents that a waiver is in effect, though individual notice quality varies by state.
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Waiver expiration: Waivers have defined end dates. States must reapply if economic conditions still qualify. A waiver does not automatically renew.
The new 10% unemployment threshold is considerably higher than the pre-OBBB standard. Very few U.S. counties sustained unemployment above 10% in recent years, meaning fewer geographic waivers will qualify going forward compared to prior years when dozens of states held statewide waivers.
Who Is Exempt from ABAWD Rules Regardless of Waiver Status
Even without a geographic waiver, you are exempt from the ABAWD 3-month time limit if you fall into one of these categories:
| Exemption Category | Details |
|---|
| Age | Under 18, or age 65 or older |
| Disability | Receiving SSI, SSDI, workers' compensation, or veterans' disability benefits; or medically certified as unable to work |
| Pregnancy | Pregnant at any stage |
| Caretaker (updated) | Living with a child under 14 in the household (changed from under 18 under OBBB) |
| Student | Enrolled in school or a qualifying training program at least half-time |
| Medically unfit | Documented physical or mental condition preventing work, verified by a healthcare provider |
Note that veterans no longer have an automatic exemption under the OBBB Act. Veterans who do not meet another exemption category now face the same ABAWD time limit as other adults.
Adults aged 60 to 64 are newly subject to ABAWD rules starting March 1, 2026 under the OBBB. Adults 65 and older remain fully exempt.
Meeting the Work Requirement Instead of a Waiver
If your county does not have an active waiver and you do not qualify for an individual exemption, meeting the work requirement is the way to keep SNAP benefits past the 3-month limit. As of 2026, you must document at least 80 hours per month of:
- Paid employment (any wage level)
- Self-employment
- Job search activities through a state-approved program
- Volunteer work through a recognized organization
- Education or vocational training at least half-time
- Participation in a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program
Your state SNAP agency will specify what documentation is acceptable. Pay stubs, employer letters, volunteer hour logs, or school enrollment records are common forms of proof.
How to Check Your Waiver Status
Waiver status changes frequently. The most reliable ways to verify current coverage in your area:
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USDA FNA website: Visit fna.usda.gov/snap/abawd/waivers and look for the current fiscal year list. The FY 2025-2029 page covers waivers approved in that timeframe.
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Your state SNAP agency: Call or visit the agency directly. Staff can tell you whether your county has an active waiver and when it expires.
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Your SNAP caseworker: If you are currently receiving benefits, your assigned caseworker can pull your case record and confirm waiver coverage.
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State agency websites: Many state agencies post waiver information on their SNAP pages. Search "[your state] SNAP ABAWD waiver 2026" to find state-specific guidance.
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Legal aid organizations: Groups like Legal Services NYC, LSNC (Legal Services of Northern California), and Hunger Free America publish updated guides on ABAWD rules for their service areas.
Discretionary Exemptions: A Secondary Safeguard
Even in areas without a geographic waiver, states can protect some SNAP recipients using discretionary exemptions. Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, each state receives a quarterly allocation of exemptions equal to 8% of its estimated ABAWD caseload per month. States can apply these exemptions to individuals who fall outside categorical exemptions but face genuine hardship.
For FY 2026, USDA published state-by-state discretionary exemption allocations at fna.usda.gov. Some states, including California, have reported zero available discretionary exemptions for FY 2026, meaning caseworkers cannot apply this protection even for eligible individuals.
If you are at risk of losing benefits due to the time limit, ask your caseworker whether any discretionary exemptions are available in your state and whether you qualify.
What Happens When Your Time Limit Is Reached
If you are subject to the ABAWD time limit and do not meet work requirements or qualify for an exemption, SNAP benefits end after 3 months within a 36-month period. Here is what that means in practice:
- Your 3-month clock starts from the first month you receive SNAP as an ABAWD subject to the time limit
- If you lose benefits due to the time limit, you can regain eligibility by meeting the 80-hour work requirement for a full month
- Moving to an area with an active waiver resets your eligibility for the period the waiver is in effect
- If your circumstances change (you become disabled, pregnant, or have a child under 14 join your household), report it immediately and request a new eligibility determination
Benefits lost due to non-compliance are not retroactively restored, even if you later become compliant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ABAWD waiver in simple terms?
An ABAWD waiver is a temporary approval from USDA that lets adults in a specific area receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months without meeting the 80-hour-per-month work requirement. Waivers are granted when a county or state has very high unemployment, typically above 10% under current law. When a waiver is active where you live, you get SNAP without needing to document work activity.
How do I know if my county has an active ABAWD waiver in 2026?
Check the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration website at fna.usda.gov/snap/abawd/waivers for the current list. The FY 2025-2029 page is the most relevant. You can also call your state SNAP office directly. Waiver coverage has changed rapidly in 2025 and 2026 due to new legislation and court orders, so always verify with an official source rather than relying on older information.
Did the One Big Beautiful Bill change ABAWD waivers?
Yes, significantly. Signed in July 2025, the OBBB eliminated the "lack of sufficient jobs" waiver pathway that many states previously used. Now only areas with unemployment above 10% qualify for geographic waivers. The law also raised the ABAWD age range from 18-54 to 18-64, eliminated the veteran exemption, and narrowed the caretaker exemption to households with a child under 14 (previously under 18).
I lost SNAP benefits but heard waivers were reinstated. What should I do?
Contact your state SNAP agency immediately. Following court orders in late 2025 and early 2026, USDA reinstated 18 waivers on February 26, 2026. If your benefits were terminated based on the early waiver cancellation, your state may be able to restore them retroactively. Legal aid organizations in your area can also help you navigate an appeal or restoration request.
Are veterans still exempt from ABAWD work requirements in 2026?
No. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, removed the blanket ABAWD exemption for veterans. Veterans who were previously protected solely by that exemption now face the same 3-month time limit as other adults unless they qualify under another exemption category, such as disability, age (65+), or having a child under 14 in the household.
What is the income limit for SNAP as an ABAWD in 2026?
ABAWD status affects how long you can receive SNAP, not whether you are initially eligible. SNAP income limits apply equally to everyone. For 2026, the gross income limit is 130% of the federal poverty level. For a single-person household, that is approximately $1,580 per month. Meeting the income test does not override the ABAWD time limit if no waiver applies and you do not meet work requirements.
Can I regain SNAP benefits after losing them due to the ABAWD time limit?
Yes. You can regain SNAP eligibility by working, volunteering, or participating in an approved training program for at least 80 hours in a calendar month and then reapplying. You can also regain eligibility if your circumstances change so that you qualify for an exemption, such as becoming pregnant, developing a disability, or having a child under 14 move into your household. A new 3-month period begins when you requalify.
Where does USDA post the official ABAWD waiver list?
USDA's Food and Nutrition Administration maintains the official list at fna.usda.gov/snap/abawd/waivers. The page is organized by fiscal year. The FY 2025-2029 section covers currently active waivers. USDA updates the list quarterly, so check back regularly if your area's status is uncertain. The old fns.usda.gov domain also redirects to some of this content.
The ABAWD waiver situation in 2026 is more fluid than it has been in years. Legislation, court orders, and quarterly USDA updates have all shifted which counties have active coverage. Check the USDA FNA waiver page regularly, confirm your status with your state agency, and use our benefits screener to see your full eligibility picture for SNAP and other programs.
