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Time Limit Waivers


Certain individuals can only receive SNAP for three months in a 3-year period if they do not meet specific work requirements. This is called the time limit.

The Food and Nutrition Act allows states to ask us to temporarily waive the time limit for individuals living in areas that have an unemployment rate of over 10%. Alaska and Hawaii can also request to temporarily waive the time limit for individuals living in areas with unemployment rates 1.5 times the national average. However, a time limit waiver does not waive the general SNAP work requirements.

As required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, we post all available time limit waiver materials beginning in FY 1997 to increase waiver transparency. Documents prior to FY 2013 may only be available in part.  

This page also includes information on waiver status by state by fiscal quarter.

FY 2026
FY 2025
FY 2024
FY 2023
FY 2022
FY 2021
FY 2020
FY 2019
FY 2018
FY 2017
Page updated: July 16, 2026