If you're between 18 and 64 and nobody in your home is under 14, SNAP probably expects you to work, train, or volunteer about 80 hours a month. A lot of people found this out from a letter, not from anyone explaining it. And the rules changed in 2025, so even people who knew the old rules got caught off guard.
Here's the plain version: who the rule covers, how volunteering counts, and what to bring your caseworker.
Who the SNAP work requirement applies to
SNAP calls this group "able-bodied adults without dependents," or ABAWDs. The 2025 budget law (H.R. 1) made the group much bigger. Now it generally covers you if:
- You're 18 through 64. It used to stop at 54.
- No child under 14 lives in your home that you help care for. It used to be under 18.
- You're able to work and don't have another exemption.
If that's you, you can get SNAP for 3 months in a 36-month period without meeting the rule. After that, you need to show the hours every month.
Exemptions that still apply
You don't have to meet the rule if, for example, you:
- Are pregnant.
- Are medically certified as unable to work.
- Get unemployment benefits, are a student at least half time, or are in a drug or alcohol treatment program.
- Are an Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian, as defined in federal law. This exemption is new.
Exemptions that ended
The 2023 debt ceiling law had exempted veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth up to age 24. H.R. 1 removed those exemptions. If you were exempt for one of those reasons, check with your SNAP office now.
What about waivers?
States used to waive the rule in areas without enough jobs. Now an area only qualifies if unemployment is over 10%. Alaska and Hawaii have their own, slightly looser test. Most old waivers have ended. As of October 1, 2026, USDA lists no statewide waivers, and only some areas in 12 states, so don't assume your county is still covered.
Does volunteering count?
Yes, in most states. The federal SNAP rule says "working" includes paid work, work for goods or services, and "unpaid work, verified under standards established by the State agency."
That last part matters. Your state decides how volunteer hours are checked. Some states only accept certain sites. Some want their own form. FRAC, a national anti-hunger group, points out that USDA has given "little to no guidance" on what volunteer proof should look like, so states are making it up as they go.
How many volunteer hours you need
There are two ways states count volunteer hours, and it makes a big difference:
- 80 hours a month, the same as a job. You can usually mix volunteering with paid work to reach 80.
- Your SNAP amount divided by the minimum wage. FRAC says many, but not all, states use this "workfare" math for volunteering. It's often far fewer hours.
Here's what the second method looks like:
| Monthly SNAP | Minimum wage used | Volunteer hours needed |
|---|---|---|
| $232 | $7.25 (Alabama) | 32 |
| $232 | $17.00 (New York City) | 13.6 |
| $292 | $7.25 (Pennsylvania) | about 41 |
The Alabama and New York City numbers come from FRAC. The Pennsylvania example is from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. If more than one adult in your home has to meet the rule, some states let you split those hours between you.
Ask your caseworker: "How many volunteer hours do I need each month, and what proof do you want?" Write down the answer, the date, and the worker's name.
What proof does SNAP want?
It depends on your state. Two examples:
- Washington counts volunteer work "with hours verified by the organization where the volunteer work was performed." The proof needs your name, the month, what you did, the hours, and the name and signature of the person verifying. You can use Form 01-205. It's due by the 10th of the next month. Washington also won't count hours you're already using for a court order.
- Pennsylvania uses Form PA 1938, which the nonprofit fills out for you.
If your state has a form, use it. If it doesn't, a signed letter from the organization usually works. We have a free volunteer hours letter template with everything a caseworker looks for. You can also check your state on our state-by-state table.
How to stay on track each month
- Pick a place before you start. Ask your SNAP office if it's an approved site. A food bank, shelter, or library is a common choice.
- Log every shift the same day. Date, start time, end time, what you did.
- Get proof signed monthly, not at the end of the year. SNAP checks month by month.
- Hand it in early. Take a photo first so you have a copy.
- If you're short, call before the month ends. Ask about good cause, an exemption, or a work program the office can put you in.
If the nonprofit seems unsure about signing, send them our guide on how nonprofits can verify volunteer hours. Most coordinators want to help. They just haven't done this before.
Where Verified Hours fits
Getting a letter signed every single month is where this tends to fall apart. Coordinators are busy, letters get lost, and deadlines don't move. Verified Hours lets you log shifts on your phone and the nonprofit confirm them with a tap. At the end of the month you get a signed letter with a QR code your caseworker can scan to check it. It's free for you and for the nonprofit.
A paper letter or your state's form works just as well if that's easier. What matters is that the hours are written down, signed, and turned in on time.
If you also have Medicaid
Medicaid has its own work rule starting by January 1, 2027. Here's a detail many people miss: if you get SNAP and you're not exempt from SNAP's work rule, the federal Medicaid rule lists you as excluded from Medicaid's work rule. Your state should catch this from its own records, but say so if you're asked for Medicaid hours. Read how volunteering counts for Medicaid.
This rule asks a lot of people who already have very little spare time. If you're doing the hours, you deserve to have them count. Write them down, get them signed, and keep a copy.