Adults ages 55 to 64 who receive SNAP now face work requirements for the first time. Before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) was signed in July 2025, the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) rules applied only to people ages 18 to 54. The new law raised the upper age limit to 64, pulling more than one million older adults into a category where they must work at least 80 hours per month or lose most of their SNAP benefits after three months.
States were required to begin implementing the new rules by November 1, 2025. If you are between 55 and 64 and currently receive SNAP, this change affects you unless you qualify for an exemption.
Use the Benefits Navigator screener to check your current SNAP eligibility under the new rules.
What Is ABAWD?
ABAWD stands for Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents. It is a classification under federal SNAP law that describes adults who are not medically disabled and do not have dependent children in their household. Under prior law, ABAWD rules applied to people ages 18 to 54. Under the OBBB, that range now extends to 64.
Adults who fall into the ABAWD category face a time limit: they can only receive SNAP for three months out of every 36-month period unless they meet a work requirement or qualify for an exemption. This is called the ABAWD time limit.
What Changed Under OBBB
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, made the following changes that affect the 55-64 age group:
Age limit raised from 54 to 64. The most significant change for older adults. Anyone who was previously outside the ABAWD rules because they were 55 or older is now subject to them if they do not have a qualifying exemption.
Work requirement: 80 hours per month. To avoid the time limit, ABAWD-classified adults must work, participate in job training, or perform community service for at least 80 hours per month (roughly 20 hours per week). Part-time work, paid or unpaid community service, and approved job training programs all count toward the 80-hour requirement.
Time limit: 3 months per 36-month period. If an adult ages 55 to 64 does not meet the work requirement and does not qualify for an exemption, their SNAP benefits are limited to three months within any 36-month window.
Waivers eliminated. Prior to the OBBB, states could apply for waivers of the ABAWD rules in areas with high unemployment. Thirty-two states held such waivers. Those waivers were automatically terminated on November 2, 2025. States can no longer waive the work requirement statewide or for individual high-unemployment areas.
New exemption added: American Indians and Alaska Natives. The OBBB added a new ABAWD exemption for American Indians and Alaska Natives, regardless of age.
Who Is Exempt from the New ABAWD Rules
Not everyone ages 55 to 64 is affected. The following groups remain exempt from ABAWD requirements:
| Exemption Category | Details |
|---|
| Medically disabled | Anyone certified as physically or mentally unfit for work by a medical professional |
| Caregiver of child under 14 | Parent or guardian living with a child age 13 or younger |
| Pregnant women | Applies for the duration of pregnancy |
| Already meeting work requirement | Working 80+ hours per month |
| Participating in job training or E&T | Enrolled in an approved employment and training program |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | New exemption added under OBBB |
Note that several exemptions that existed before the OBBB were removed by the new law. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals who aged out of foster care previously had blanket exemptions from ABAWD rules. All three of those exemptions were eliminated. A veteran ages 55 to 64 who is not working and does not qualify for another exemption is now subject to the work requirement.
What "Work" Counts Toward the 80-Hour Requirement
The following activities count toward the 80 hours per month required to maintain SNAP benefits without hitting the time limit:
- Paid employment (any amount, part-time or full-time)
- Self-employment that generates income
- Job search activities that are part of an approved Employment and Training (E&T) program
- Job training programs (approved by the state SNAP agency)
- Community service or volunteering at a rate of at least 80 hours per month
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs
- SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) programs
Hours from multiple activities can be combined to reach 80 total per month. For example, someone working 40 hours per month at a part-time job and volunteering 40 hours per month at a food bank meets the requirement.
What Happens If You Cannot Meet the Requirement
If you are ages 55 to 64, fall under the ABAWD category, and cannot meet the 80-hour work requirement or a qualifying exemption, your SNAP benefits are limited to three months within any 36-month period. After three countable months, benefits stop.
You can regain eligibility before the 36-month window closes if you begin meeting the work requirement or gain a qualifying exemption. If the full 36-month period passes, you become eligible for another three countable months.
Estimated Impact on the 55-64 Age Group
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that the ABAWD age limit expansion will result in more than one million older adults ages 55 to 64 losing SNAP benefits. Many in this age group face significant barriers to employment:
- Higher rates of chronic illness and physical limitations that may not rise to the level of a formal disability certification
- More limited job opportunities due to age discrimination
- Distance from job training programs in rural areas
- Loss of the homelessness exemption affecting older adults living without stable housing
The Urban Institute projects that nearly 3 million young adults broadly and hundreds of thousands of older adults in the 55-64 range will become newly subject to ABAWD time limits as a result of the OBBB changes.
How to Maintain Your SNAP Benefits If You Are 55 to 64
If you are in the 55-64 age group and want to keep your SNAP benefits, take these steps:
Step 1: Contact your state SNAP office. Ask whether you are currently classified as an ABAWD and whether you have a qualifying exemption on file. Not every person ages 55 to 64 is automatically reclassified; your state agency processes the change.
Step 2: Document any exempting conditions. If you have a medical condition, get documentation from a doctor. If you care for a child under 14, provide proof. If you are working, gather your pay stubs or an employer letter showing hours worked.
Step 3: Enroll in SNAP E&T if available. SNAP Employment and Training programs are offered by most states and can satisfy the work requirement. Ask your state SNAP office which E&T programs are available in your area.
Step 4: Report changes promptly. If your employment status, household composition, or medical status changes, report it to your SNAP office immediately to update your exemption status.
Step 5: Appeal a denial. If you believe you qualify for an exemption and your SNAP benefits have been reduced or terminated, you have the right to a fair hearing. Request one in writing from your state SNAP agency.
Implementation Timeline
| Date | What Happened |
|---|
| July 4, 2025 | OBBB signed into law |
| November 1, 2025 | States required to begin implementing expanded ABAWD rules |
| November 2, 2025 | All existing ABAWD area waivers automatically terminated |
| 2026 onward | Enforcement ongoing; states issuing notices to affected recipients |
Some states began implementation earlier; others are still rolling out notices to affected recipients through 2026. If you have not heard from your SNAP office, contact them proactively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do people ages 55 to 64 now have to work to get SNAP?
Yes, as of November 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Adults ages 55 to 64 who do not have a qualifying exemption must work, train, or perform community service for at least 80 hours per month to receive SNAP beyond three months in any 36-month period.
Was there a work requirement for people 55 and older before OBBB?
No. Before the OBBB, the ABAWD work requirement applied only to adults ages 18 to 54. People 55 and older were automatically excluded from the ABAWD category and faced no work requirement or time limit based on age alone.
What if I am 55 to 64 and disabled but not formally certified?
You need to obtain written documentation from a licensed medical professional confirming that your physical or mental condition makes you unfit for work. The disability exemption requires official documentation. Without it, you may be classified as an ABAWD even if you have a real condition limiting your ability to work. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if this applies to you.
Does the veteran exemption still exist?
No. The OBBB eliminated the veteran ABAWD exemption. Veterans ages 55 to 64 must now either meet the work requirement or qualify under a different exemption category such as disability or caregiving.
Can a 55 to 64 year old who is homeless still get SNAP?
The homelessness exemption was also eliminated by the OBBB. People experiencing homelessness in the 55-64 range must meet the work requirement or qualify under another exemption to avoid the three-month time limit.
What if my state had a waiver before?
All state area waivers were automatically terminated on November 2, 2025. Even if your county or region previously had a high-unemployment waiver that exempted residents from ABAWD rules, that waiver no longer applies. The work requirement now applies statewide without exception.
How do I find a SNAP Employment and Training program?
Contact your state SNAP office and ask specifically about SNAP E&T (Employment and Training) programs. These are approved by the state and satisfy the work requirement. Programs may include job readiness workshops, vocational training, adult education, and work experience placements.
