We are in the process of providing guidance on how The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changes the work requirements for SNAP able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). This includes changes to the ABAWD exception criteria and ABAWD waiver criteria. We will update this page once the guidance is released.
Time Limit Policy Resources
Here are some resources about SNAP work requirements and related information.
Note: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changed who must follow the SNAP time limit requirements – formerly known as the able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements – as of July 4, 2025. Therefore, materials published before July 4, 2025, may be out of date.
- The Secretary’s Authority on ABAWD Waivers - April 2025
- Q&A #1 for the Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the FRA of 2023 Final Rule – December 2024
- Implementation of the Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 Final Rule – December 2024
- SNAP Work Rules Screening Checklists and Flow Chart – October 2023
- SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Policy Guide – September 2023
- SNAP Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – Questions and Answers 2 – August 2023
- SNAP Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – Questions and Answers 1 – July 2023
- Implementing SNAP Provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – June 2023
- SNAP Provisions in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 – June 2023
- Clarifications on Work Requirements, ABAWDs, and E&T – May 2018
- Best Practices and Resources for Informing Households of ABAWD Rules – May 2018
- Requirements for Informing Households of ABAWD Rules – April 2017
- ABAWDS Time Limit Exemption for Veterans Disability Benefit Recipients – May 2016
- ABAWD Time Limit Policy and Program Access Memo – November 2015
- ABAWD Questions and Answers – June 2015
- Expiration of Statewide ABAWD Time Limit Waivers – March 2015
- ABAWD Questions and Answers – December 2013
- ABAWD 101 Presentation
Time Limit Waivers
As required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, we post all available time limit waiver materials beginning in FY 1997 to the public to increase waiver transparency. Documents prior to FY 2013 may only be available in part.
- Time Limit Waivers – July 2023
- SNAP - Guide to Supporting Requests to Waive the Time Limit for ABAWDs – September 2021
Discretionary Exemptions
Federal law dictates that each state SNAP agency be allocated a certain number of discretionary exemptions equal to a percentage of their total caseload that is found ineligible for SNAP benefits because of the time limit. Prior to FY 2020, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 allocated exemptions equal to 15%. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 reduced the allocation to 12% beginning in FY 2020. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 reduced the allocation to 8% beginning in FY 2024
These exemptions allow the state agency, at its discretion, to extend SNAP eligibility to a limited number of individuals subject to the time limit. Each discretionary exemption extends eligibility to one individual for one month. As per federal law, we calculate and issue state agencies a new allotment of discretionary exemptions each fiscal year. State agencies do not earn new discretionary exemptions based on areas that are covered by time limit waivers in the preceding fiscal year.
- FY 2026 Discretionary Exemptions for ABAWDS - Not Adjusted for Carryover - Dec. 22, 2025
- FY 2025 Allocation of Discretionary Exemptions - Total, Including Carryover – May 15, 2025
- FY 2025 Discretionary Exemptions for ABAWDs - Not Adjusted for Carryover - Sept. 30, 2024
- Overuse of the 15 Percent ABAWD Exemptions by State Agencies – November 2007