SNAP Work Requirements Changed in 2025 | H.R. 1 Visual Explainer

What Changed?

On July 4, 2025, new federal law (H.R. 1) made the most significant changes to SNAP work requirements since the program was established in 1996. Three major changes affect millions of people currently receiving SNAP benefits.

The three cards below explain each change. Click any card to see details, visualizations, and check if you're affected. Each card can be shared individually.

Age Requirements Expanded

Ages 18-54 → 18-64 (10 years added)

Who's Affected?

~2.5 million people ages 55-64 are now subject to work requirements who weren't before.

Before H.R. 1

Work requirements applied to people ages 18-54. If you were 55 or older, you were automatically exempt.

After H.R. 1

Work requirements now apply to people ages 18-64. The age range expanded by 10 years.

Parent Exemption Narrowed

Child under 18 → Child under 14 (4 years removed)

Who's Affected?

~500,000 parents with teenagers (ages 14-17) lost their exemption.

Before H.R. 1

Parents with any dependent child under 18 were exempt from work requirements.

After H.R. 1

Parents are only exempt if they have a dependent child under 14. Parents with only teenage children (14-17) must now meet work requirements.

Exemptions Removed

Veterans, Homeless, Foster Youth (ages 18-24) no longer exempt

What Changed?

Before H.R. 1

These groups were automatically exempt from work requirements:

Veterans - All veterans were exempt
Homeless individuals - Anyone experiencing homelessness was exempt
Foster youth ages 18-24 - Young adults who aged out of foster care were exempt

After H.R. 1

These exemptions were removed. Veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth must now meet work requirements unless they qualify for a different exemption (like disability or having a child under 14).

✓ New Protection Added

H.R. 1 created a new exemption for tribal members (as defined under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act). This is a positive change that protects tribal communities from work requirements.

Exemptions That Still Apply

You are still exempt if you:

Are pregnant
Have a disability or receive disability benefits
Are medically certified as unable to work
Are caring for an incapacitated household member
Are a tribal member (newly exempt under H.R. 1)

Note: These are the three most major changes directly impacting individuals. H.R. 1 also made other changes including stricter state waiver criteria and a new exemption for tribal members. See the Sources section below for complete details.

When Do These Changes Take Effect?

July 4, 2025

H.R. 1 signed into law - effective immediately

November 1, 2025

States began enforcing expanded work requirements

November 13, 2025

FNS instructed all states not to count November as a countable month due to the government shutdown

March 1, 2026

First benefit terminations will generally begin being enforced, but some states may have delayed implementation

State Exceptions

Some states/territories had waivers delaying enforcement past November 2025:

California: Enforcement delayed until June 2026
Illinois: Waiver ended Nov 2025; first countable month Dec 2025 (per FNS Nov 13 guidance)
Nevada, DC, Guam, Virgin Islands: Waivers expired late 2025 / early 2026

What Happens Next?

What Counts as Meeting Work Requirements?

You must complete 80 hours per month of one or more of these activities:

Work - Paid employment at any wage
Workfare - Unpaid work in exchange for benefits
Job training - SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) programs
Volunteer work - At nonprofit organizations
Earning minimum wage equivalent - Earning at least $580/month (the federal minimum wage standard), which is especially relevant for gig workers and self-employed individuals

Note: 80 hours = about 20 hours per week or 4 hours per weekday

What Documentation You May Need

Requirements vary by state. Common documentation includes:

Pay stubs or employer verification letter
Volunteer hour logs (signed by supervisor)
Training program attendance records
Monthly reports submitted to your state SNAP office

What's the Time Limit?

If you don't meet the work requirements, you can only receive SNAP for 3 months in any 36-month period.

After 3 months, your benefits will stop unless you start meeting the work requirements.

When Does This Apply to You?

States check work requirements at your recertification (when you renew your SNAP benefits, typically every 6-12 months).

If you're affected by the new rules, your state will notify you about work requirements at your next recertification.

Where to Get Help

Your state SNAP office - Find contact info at USDA State Directory
Legal aid - Free legal help at LawHelp.org
Benefits assistance - Benefits.gov or call 211

Sources & Methodology

Primary Sources

H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act (119th Congress) - Legislative text
USDA FNS OBBB Implementation Guidance - Federal guidance
USDA FNS ABAWD Exemptions Implementation - ABAWD time limit guidance
FNS Guidance on Benefit Issuance (Nov 13, 2025) - November not a countable month
Propel SNAP Work Requirements Full Guide - Advocacy analysis

Population Data

USDA FNS SNAP Participation Data - Program statistics
HUD Point-in-Time Count - Homelessness data
HHS Foster Care Statistics - Foster care data

Methodology Notes

Last updated: February 6, 2026

Population estimates: Based on USDA SNAP participation data cross-referenced with demographic breakdowns. Some estimates are pending verification with latest data releases.

Age requirements (2.5M estimate): Based on SNAP participants ages 55-64 without dependent children under 14.

Parent exemption (500K estimate): Based on SNAP households with children ages 14-17 only (no younger children).

Exemptions removed: Population estimates for veterans, homeless, and foster youth affected are marked as "data not available" pending better cross-referencing of SNAP participation with these populations.