FEDERAL CHANGES TO ABAWD WORK REQUIREMENTS & HOW IT AFFECTS YOU
What You Need to Know
Due to recent changes in federal law, the District of Columbia (DC) will begin checking whether Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers need to meet new work requirements to keep their SNAP benefits starting on May 1, 2026. The work requirements apply to non-exempt SNAP customers who meet the definition of Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (or ABAWD).
Starting May 1, whenever you apply to get or recertify your SNAP benefits, the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) will ask you questions to determine whether you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or if you qualify for an exemption. Once DHS notifies you that you must follow ABAWD work requirements, you will need to start meeting your ABAWD work requirements right away.
What You Should Do Right Now
No action is required to keep your SNAP benefits right now. Following your first SNAP application or recertification on or after May 1, you may be subject to ABAWD work requirements.
For current SNAP customers: the next time you apply for recertification, starting May 1, DHS will determine if you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption. If you do need to meet ABAWD work requirements, DHS will send you a notice of:
- Who in your household needs to meet ABAWD work requirements; and
- Provide different ways you can meet work requirements. More information on how to meet requirements is listed in the FAQs below.
For new customers applying for SNAP: starting May 1, DHS will determine if you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption at the time of your application.
In the meantime, we recommend taking the actions below, especially if you believe you will be impacted by work requirements:
- Make sure your phone number, address, and household circumstances on file with DHS are up to date. Updates can be made via District Direct, in person, or by mail/fax. Access forms on District Direct, in service centers, and online.
- Open and read all mail from DHS. DHS regularly sending information to all SNAP households about SNAP work requirements, exemptions, and activities to meet work requirements.
- Respond right away if DHS asks you for information.
- Get ready to show proof of your hours spent in and earnings received from current work, training, and volunteering activities.
- Start looking for work or work activities:
- SNAP customers can work with SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) to get help finding a job or get connected with an education or training program to develop new skills. If you have both SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, please ensure you are already meeting your TANF work requirements. Customers meeting TANF work requirements are exempt from SNAP work requirements.
- Learn more and stay informed about upcoming SNAP work requirements on this web page and by following us at DCHumanServ on X and Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you an ABAWD?
A simple way to see if you’re an ABAWD (Able‑Bodied Adult Without Dependents) for SNAP, look at two things: age and whether you meet any exemptions.
- You are an ABAWD if you are 18–64 years old and do not meet an exemption (Examples: you have a disability or other mental/physical barriers to work, being pregnant, or have a child under 14.
- Starting May 1, 2026, if you are screened and notified that you are an ABAWD who does not meet an exemption and you don’t meet the ABAWD work requirement, you can only receive SNAP for three months in a 36‑month period.
Note: SNAP also has General Work Requirements (GWR) that already exist in DC. If you are exempt from GWR, then you are also exempt from the ABAWD work requirements.
You received a notice about work requirements. Does this mean you are now subject to ABAWD work requirements?
In January 2026, DHS sent you a letter about new SNAP work rules that start on May 1, 2026. If the letter describes you — for example, if you are an adult with no children and do not meet an exemption — DHS may decide that the ABAWD work rules apply to you when you are screened on or after May 1, 2026. You can start getting prepared now.
In March and April 2026, you will get more messages about work requirements, time limits, and what people need to do if the rules apply to them. These messages are only to help you understand the changes coming.
Notices sent before May 1, 2026, explain the ABAWD work rules to help you get ready, but they do not mean the rules already apply to you.
- If you are a current SNAP customer, starting May 1, 2026, the next time you recertify DHS will determine if you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption. Then, DHS will send you a notice explaining which household members need to meet which work requirements; no action is needed until recertification.
- If you are a new customer applying for SNAP, starting May 1, 2026, DHS will determine if you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption at the time of your application.
Note: We encourage you to start looking for work activities NOW and submit proof early. Submit proof of work exemptions or work compliance by completing the SNAP Work Requirement Screening Form that will be available starting April 27, 2026, on District Direct, the mobile App, or submit by paper in-person, by fax, or mail.
Who is exempt from ABAWD Work Requirements starting May 1?
SNAP work requirement exemptions allow certain people to continue receiving SNAP without having to meet mandatory work or employment and training activities. These exemptions are designed to protect groups who may have limited ability to work—such as people with disabilities, older adults, or parents of young children—from losing benefits after the ABAWD three‑month limit.
You may be exempt if any of the following apply:
Age
- Under 18
- 65 or older
Health, Pregnancy, or Related Special Conditions
- Physical or mental health condition that prevents work (verification required)
- Pregnant (any trimester; verification required)
- In a substance abuse treatment program
- Receiving disability-related benefits such as SSDI, SSI, workers’ compensation, or veterans’ disability benefits (verification required)
Employment or Education
- Working 30+ hours per week (verification required)
- Earning more than $217.50 per week before taxes (federal minimum wage × 30 hours)
- Enrolled at least half‑time in school, training, higher education, or a federally recognized refugee program (verification required)
Caretaker Responsibilities
- Caring for a child under 6 (in or outside the home)
- Caring for someone who is ill or disabled (in or outside the home)
- Parent of or living in a SNAP household with a child under 14
Other Benefit or Program Participation
- Receiving or applying for Unemployment Compensation (verification required)
- Receiving TANF or cash assistance and complying with its work rules
Indigenous Identity
- Meets the definition of Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian found in 25 U.S.C. § 1603(3), (13), or (28).
What do I do to prove that I qualify for an exemption?
DHS will check if you qualify for an exemption during screening at SNAP application and recertification.
In the meantime, if you are a current SNAP recipient, you can report changes in your household circumstances (such as pregnancy, disability, or having a child in the home) now. You can report these changes online via District Direct, the mobile app, in person, or by mail or fax to ensure your case is up to date.
In some cases, you may need to provide proof of your exemption. Once DHS starts screening in May 2026, your caseworker will let you know if you must provide proof. If you meet one or more exemptions, DHS will send a letter confirming that you are exempt from work requirements. If you lose your exemption at any point, the three-month time limit will apply again.
What happens if I do not meet ABAWD work requirements?
If you are between the ages of 18 and 64 and do not qualify for an exemption, you will be subject to ABAWD work requirements. ABAWD customers not meeting work requirements cannot receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 36-month (3-year) period. DC uses a fixed 36-month clock that has the same start date, May 1, 2026, and end date, April 30, 2029, for all customers.
How do I meet ABAWD work requirements?
To meet ABAWD work requirements, you must do one of these things:
- Work an average of at least 20 hours each week (or 80 hours a month). The work can be paid, unpaid, volunteer work, or work done in exchange for goods or services.
- Be in an approved work or training program for at least an average of 20 hours each week (or 80 hours a month). This could be through SNAP E&T or another approved work program.
- Do a mix of work and work or training programs for an average of at least 20 hours each week (or 80 hours a month).
- Participate in SNAP Volunteer Program (also known as Workfare). This program, run by SNAP E&T, matches customers to approved volunteer opportunities at non-profits, faith-based organizations or government agencies. The number of hours you must complete depends on your household SNAP benefit amount, but for most households it is less than 30 hours per month.
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Examples |
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What activities can I do to meet work requirements?
You can participate in any of the following work activities or a combination of these activities for at least 80 hours per month to meet the ABAWD work requirements.
Note: you can also meet work requirements by completing a smaller number of hours through the SNAP Volunteer Program.
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Category |
Qualifying Activities |
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Paid Employment |
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Unpaid Work |
Volunteer work or barter arrangements |
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Work, Education, & Training Programs |
SNAP customers can complete ABAWD work requirements by participating in:
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Note: TANF Customers who are subject to ABAWD work requirements will be exempt if you are meeting TANF work requirements. If you need to re-engage with TANF, contact the Office of Performance Monitoring (OPM) in DCWET at 202-645-8205.
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Example |
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Ahmed works 16 hours each weekend at a local restaurant and is enrolled in technical education classes through SNAP E&T for 4 hours during the week. Ahmed is meeting the ABAWD work requirement through a combination of working and participating in SNAP E&T. |
What is the SNAP Volunteer Program (Workfare)?
The SNAP Volunteer Program allows you to meet work requirements by volunteering at an approved volunteer site. You can sign up for the SNAP Volunteer Program through SNAP E&T. You will be matched with a volunteering opportunity at an approved non-profit, faith-based organization, or government agency.
This is the fastest way to meet the work requirement. Your monthly work requirement is your SNAP benefit amount divided by DC’s minimum wage ($17.95), which is often less than 30 hours per month. You can split hours among ABAWDs in your household.
*For organizations interested in partnering as a SNAP Volunteer Program host site, contact the Employment & Training (E&T) team at [email protected] for details.
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Example |
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Diana receives $298 per month in SNAP benefits. To meet SNAP work requirements, she can volunteer through the SNAP Volunteer Program 16 hours per month. She contacts SNAP E&T, gets matched to an approved volunteer site at her local animal shelter, and volunteers 4 hours per week (16 hours per month) to meet her work requirements. |
Can I get help finding a job or training program?
There are several programs available to SNAP recipients through the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program to help you find a job, get training, or attend school. For example, SNAP E&T can connect you to paid apprenticeships, internships, and job placement services. Most activities you do through SNAP E&T can count toward meeting your work requirements.
Customers who work with SNAP E&T can also receive reimbursements for eligible transportation, childcare, and other expenses related to participation. Please call SNAP E&T at (202) 535-1178, e-mail [email protected], or visit us at our Anacostia Service Center at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. SE, Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM.
What if I have a good reason for not being able to meet my work requirements for one month?
If you are unable to complete work hours due to reasons beyond your control, you may not be penalized if you have “Good Cause”. Starting May 1, 2026, you can report Good Cause anytime via the SNAP Work Requirement Screening Form or to a case worker during your interview. Some examples of good cause include, but are not limited to:
- Temporary illness
- Eviction or foreclosure
- Sudden breakdown in transportation
- Sudden loss of childcare
- Court-ordered appearance or temporary incarceration
- Domestic violence
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Example |
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Taylor meets his work requirements by working 20 hours per month at a dry cleaner. It takes Taylor two hours to reach the dry cleaner via public transportation, so he drives instead. Taylor’s car breaks down on March 23, and he is unable to get to the dry cleaner to work for the rest of the week. He will only have worked 60 hours that month. He calls his case worker to report “Good Cause”. His Good Cause request is approved, and he receives a notice in the mail. |
What key forms and reporting tools will I need?
Coming April 27, 2026, DHS will release 3 new ABAWD forms:
- SNAP Work Requirements Screening Form – screens for exemptions and good cause at application and recertification
- SNAP Verification of Employment Form – used to verify work activity history (filled out by the customer and signed by employer representative)
- SNAP Medical Report Form – used to report medical condition and to be signed by a qualified professional
If I am 60 years old, will I need to comply with work requirements?
Based on changes in federal rules, SNAP customers aged 60-64 years old will be subject to ABAWD work requirements unless you meet an exemption. You will be screened for work requirement exemptions at your next recertification.
Can I avoid losing my benefits?
Yes, you can take steps to avoid losing SNAP benefits. If you do not meet work requirements, you will receive a notice in the mail for each month you are not meeting the requirements. After three months of not meeting requirements, you will lose your benefits. To meet requirements, you can:
- Work at least 80 hours, or
- Take part in a qualifying work activity for 80 hours.
- Note: If your SNAP benefits stop, you cannot be in SNAP E&T because the program is only for people who already get SNAP.
- Do a mixture of work and work activities that equals 80 hours total.
Alternatively, you can see if you qualify for an exemption.
Updated: March 5, 2026