Federal law limits the amount of time individuals without dependents or a documented disability can receive SNAP benefits, unless they are working or have another exemption. All of Pennsylvania is currently waived from this rule due to higher than average unemployment and other geographic exceptions through May 31, 2025. Most of Pennsylvania is waived through August 31, 2025.
Here is what you need to know when applying for or maintaining your SNAP benefits:
Many “able-bodied” adults will have to be working to receive food stamps for more than three months.
Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are not meeting federally defined Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements will only be eligible for those benefits (“food stamps”) for 3 months in a 3-year period. If you meet the work requirements you can continue receiving food stamps.
Who is in the able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) category?
The food stamps work requirements will apply to you if you are between the ages of 18-54, do not have a physical or mental disability that would prevent you from working, and are not caring for a child or incapacitated household member.
Are there exceptions to the SNAP work requirements?
Yes! Food stamps work requirements will not apply to you if you are:
- Aged 17 or younger, or aged 55 or older
- Mentally or physically “unfit” for work
The mental or physical condition(s) must be documented and signed by a licensed medical practitioner unless you are eligible for SSI, social security disability, Medicaid disability, VA needs-based pension payments, or other government benefits due to an inability to work.
- Living with any child in your SNAP household (does not have to be your own child)
- Caring for an ill or incapacitated household member or relative
- Pregnant
- In a drug or alcohol treatment program
- Receiving or have applied for Unemployment Insurance
- Expecting to return to work within 60 days
- Enrolled as a student at least half-time (must meet separate rules for college students)
- A victim of domestic violence
- A veteran
- 24 years old or younger and were in foster care at the age of 18.
- Experiencing Homeless, which can include:
- Lacking a fixed and regular nighttime residence OR
- Your primary nighttime residence is:
- a shelter (intended to provide temporary living accommodations).
- a halfway house or other institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized.
- a temporary accommodation in the residence of another individual, such as couch surfing (“temporary” is defined as no longer than 90 days in one specific residence).
- a public or private place not designed for sleeping — parks, benches, etc.
- Living in an area that is exempt. All of Pennsylvania will be waived through May 31, 2025. After which the following areas will no longer be exempt:
- Adams County: All of Adams county will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- Butler County: Only Cranberry Township will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025. The rest of the county is waived through August 31, 2025.
- Chester County: All of Chester county will have the time limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- Centre County: All of Centre county will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- Cumberland County: Only Hampden Township will have the ABAWD rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025. The rest of the county if waived through August 31, 2025.
- Lancaster County: All of Lancaster County, except for the City of Lancaster, will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- Lebanon County: All of Lebanon County, except for the City of Lebanon, will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- Montgomery County: All of Montgomery County, except for the Municipality of Norristown, will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025.
- York County: All of York County will have the time-limit rule in full effect starting June 1, 2025 except for the City of York, York Township, and Springettsbury Township.
What are the SNAP work requirements?
Able-bodied but jobless adults without children or a disability (ABAWD) must either be working or participating in a job training program at least 20 hours per week (an average of 80 hours per month), or volunteering with a community service provider for a certain number of hours (see below for details and required number of hours) to continue receiving food stamps for more than three months. You may also do a combination of work, work program, and community service activities to meet the 20 hours per week requirement.
If I am in the ABAWD category, how can I make sure to keep my SNAP benefits?
Work Programs:
If you are working but are working less than 20 hours per week, talk to your employer to see if you can increase your work hours. You can also participate in an eligible job training or work program for at least 20 hours per week. You can also combine work hours or hours in a job training program with community service to meet the 20 hour requirement. If you are in the ABAWD category, talk with your PA Department of Human Services (DHS) caseworker to learn more about your options. Work training programs include support for transportation and supplies.
Education:
You can ask your caseworker about enrolling in the KEYS program to meet your work requirement. KEYS is a program at community colleges that can include GED classes, non-credit certification programs, or college level courses, and provides support throughout your enrollment. KEYS participants receive support for transportation, books, and supplies.
Community Service (or “Workfare”):
Volunteer at an eligible non-profit or community organization to “work for benefits.” The required hours are found by dividing your total SNAP benefit by the state minimum wage of $7.25/hour. For example, if you are receiving the maximum amount of food stamps — $292 for a single person — you will need to serve an average of 40 hours per month ($292 / $7.25 = 40 hours per month or about 10 hours per week. You can use the handy calculator on this page to figure out how many hours of community service you would need to do based on the benefit level for your SNAP household.) If you want to do community service to meet your hours, talk to your DHS caseworker.
Is there help with things like transportation and clothing for people required to do community service?
Yes. The Department of Human Services (DHS) can give you Special Allowances (SPAL’s) to help you meet the requirement. SPAL’s include things like: money for transportation (public and private), clothing (if specific clothing is necessary for the work program), and supplies, books, or tools needed for education, work, or community service. These allowances must be requested and approved before their purchase, and verification (receipts) must be provided.
