Quick answer. SNAP's work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents now covers ages 18 to 64. It asks for 80 hours a month of work or a work program. Without meeting it or an exception, benefits are limited to 3 countable months in 36. Add up your weeks and mark your months below.
Count this month's hours
Enter hours for each week.
Mark your countable months
Ask your county agency when your 36-month period starts, then mark each month. The counter applies the FNS definition of a countable month to what you mark. The county agency keeps the official count.
Choices: 80+ hours (met the requirement); Under 80, full SNAP (a full month of benefits, under 80 hours, not exempt and not in a waived area: the countable kind); Exempt or waived area; No or partial SNAP (no benefits, or less than a full month).
Mark the months you know.
The rule after the 2025 changes
- Who: able-bodied adults without dependents aged 18 to 64, unless an exception applies. The changes took effect July 4, 2025 (FNS exceptions memo).
- Hours: 80 hours a month of work (paid, in-kind or volunteer), a qualifying work program, or a combination; or workfare as assigned (FNS ABAWD Policy Guide).
- Time limit: three countable months in a 36-month period without meeting the requirement. Someone who regains eligibility by meeting the requirement for 30 days may get one more set of three consecutive countable months, once in the 36 months (FNS ABAWD Policy Guide).
- Exceptions (from FNS and NJ SNAP): under 18 or 65 and over; an adult in a SNAP household with a child under 14; exempt from SNAP general work rules (at 60 to 64, for a reason other than age); pregnant; physically or mentally unfit for work; Indians, Urban Indians and California Indians as defined in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; living in a waived area. The exceptions for homelessness, veterans and former foster youth were removed in 2025.
Waivers and New Jersey
Since July 4, 2025, an area can be waived only if its unemployment rate is over 10 percent (Alaska and Hawaii have a separate test). Waivers based on a lack of sufficient jobs ended November 2, 2025 (FNS waivers memo). For New Jersey, FNS approved a waiver for Cape May County and Camden City from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027 (FNS letter). New Jersey's SNAP page says to tell your County Social Service Agency within 10 days if your hours drop below 80, online at MyNJHelps.gov or by phone, mail or in person.
Sources
- FNS memo: SNAP provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, ABAWD exceptions implementation (Oct. 3, 2025)
- FNS memo: ABAWD waivers implementation (Oct. 3, 2025)
- FNS ABAWD Policy Guide (September 2023)
- FNS response to New Jersey's FY2026 ABAWD waiver request (Feb. 10, 2026)
- NJ SNAP: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents
General information checked November 2026 against the FNS and NJ pages above. Not legal or benefits advice, and not affiliated with USDA or NJ SNAP. The counter runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Common questions
What ages does the SNAP time limit cover now?
Since July 4, 2025, able-bodied adults without dependents aged 18 to 64 are subject to the time limit unless an exception applies, according to the Food and Nutrition Service. In New Jersey it runs from the month after you turn 18 up to the month you turn 65.
How many hours do I need?
80 hours a month of work, a qualifying work program, or a combination, or taking part in workfare as assigned. New Jersey describes it as at least 80 hours a month, or an average of 20 hours a week. Volunteer and in-kind work count as work.
What is a countable month?
FNS defines it as a month in which a person gets a full month of SNAP benefits while not meeting the work requirement and not exempt. Without meeting the requirement, benefits are limited to three countable months in a 36-month period.
Which exceptions changed in 2025?
FNS says the exceptions for people experiencing homelessness, veterans and people who aged out of foster care were removed, the household-with-a-child exception now applies to children under 14, and exceptions were added for Indians, Urban Indians and California Indians.
Does New Jersey have a waiver?
FNS approved a waiver for Cape May County and Camden City from February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027. Since July 4, 2025, a waiver requires unemployment over 10 percent in the area. Ask your County Social Service Agency about your area.