SNAP Work Requirements

You are an ABAWD if you are between the ages 18–64 years old and do not meet an exemption. Examples of exemptions: having a disability or other mental/physical barriers to work, being pregnant, receiving or applying for unemployment benefits, meeting TANF work requirements, or living with a child under age 14. See the full list below.

If you are told by DHS that you are an ABAWD and do not meet an exemption, and you do not meet the work rules, you can only get SNAP for three months in a three-year period.

Note: SNAP 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.

If you are an adult between ages of 18–64 years old, have no children and don't have an exemption, new work requirements might affect you.

• If you are a SNAP recipient, 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.
• If you are applying for SNAP, DHS will determine if you need to meet ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption at the time of your application.

If DHS has determined that you have to meet SNAP ABAWD work requirements, we strongly recommend taking the following actions:

Need help looking for work or work activities?

SNAP recipients can seek SNAP E&T services any time you are interested. Please call our office at (202) 535-1178 or e-mail us at [email protected], or call TTY/TDD at 711 to get started. Services are currently being offered both in-person and remotely.

SNAP recipients with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits should re-engage with TANF work requirements through the Office of Performance Monitoring (OPM) in DCWET at (202) 645-8205.

Don't wait! Report exemptions & work activities as soon as possible!

Report exemptions or qualifying work activity using District Direct (opens in a new window)—DC's one-stop benefits portal—or using the District Direct Mobile App (opens in a new window). You can also fill out the forms below and upload them to District Direct, or submit them in person at a DHS service center or by mail:

• Work Requirements Screening Form: English (PDF, opens in a new window) | Spanish (PDF, opens in a new window) | Amharic (PDF, opens in a new window)
• Verification of Employment or Qualifying Work Activity Form: English (PDF, opens in a new window) | Spanish (PDF, opens in a new window) | Amharic (PDF, opens in a new window)
• Medical Report Form: English (PDF, opens in a new window) | Spanish (PDF, opens in a new window) | Amharic (PDF, opens in a new window)

Read and respond to mail right away!

Make sure DHS has your latest info on file, including phone number, address, and household circumstances. Updates can be made via District Direct (opens in a new window), in person (opens in a new window), or by mail/fax. Access forms on District Direct (opens in a new window), in service centers (opens in a new window), and online (opens in a new window).

If you are between the ages of 18–64 and do not qualify for an exemption, you will be subject to ABAWD work requirements. ABAWD recipients not meeting work requirements cannot receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 36-month (3-year) period.

If you do not meet work requirements or an exemption, 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.

DC uses a fixed 36-month clock that has the same start date, June 1, 2026, and end date, May 31, 2029, for all recipients.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients who are subject to SNAP ABAWD work requirements will be exempt if they meet TANF work requirements. If you need to connect with the TANF Employment and Education Program (TEP), contact the Office of Performance Monitoring (OPM) in DCWET at 202-645-8205.

Medicaid recipients should review the Medicaid Work Requirements page to determine whether they need to meet requirements.

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 conditions make it difficult for you to work 20 hours per week.
• Pregnant.
• In a substance abuse treatment or rehab program (you can report by having an allowable professional complete the SNAP Medical Report form available June 1, 2026).
• Receiving disability-related benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), workers' compensation, or veterans' disability benefits (must show proof).

Employment or Education

• Working 30+ hours per week (must show proof).
• Earning more than $217.50 per week before taxes.
• Enrolled at least half-time in school, training, higher education, or a federally recognized refugee program (must show proof).

Caretaker Responsibilities

• Living in a SNAP household with a child under 14.
• Caring for a child under age 6, whether the child is living in or outside your home.
• Caring for someone who is ill or disabled living in or outside your home.

Other Benefit or Program Participation

• Receiving or applying for Unemployment Compensation (must show proof).
• Receiving TANF or cash assistance and complying with its work requirements.

Indigenous Identity

• You are considered to be an American Indian, Alaska Native, Urban Indian, or California Indian.

DHS will check if you qualify for an exemption during screening at SNAP application or recertification.

In the meantime, if you are a current SNAP recipient, you can report changes in your household circumstances now (such as pregnancy, disability, or having a child in the home). You can report these changes online via District Direct (opens in a new window), the mobile app (opens in a new window), in person (opens in a new window), or by mail or fax to ensure your case is up to date.

You may need to provide proof of your exemption; 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.

Due to recent changes in federal law, SNAP recipients 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.

You must report the changes below within 10 days of the end of the month when the change happens. If the change occurs with fewer than 10 days left in the month, you must report it within 10 days of the date it happened.

• Your household's total income goes over the limit shown in a SNAP notice you received from DHS.
• Any reduction in work hours that brings a household member subject to the ABAWD work requirement and time limit below 20 hours a week, or 80 hours averaged monthly. This includes one of the following or a combination of the following:
  • Employment at a job where the recipient receives money for their work
  • Self-employment
  • In-kind or working in exchange for goods or services
  • Unpaid work
• A member of your household won a substantial lottery or gambling winning with a cash prize from a single game that is over the asset limit for elderly or disabled households, regardless of whether the household has an elderly or disabled member.

We will screen you for work requirements at your next recertification. In the meantime, your benefits cannot be terminated because you have not yet been screened for SNAP work requirements, exemptions, or good cause. When a recipient applies/recertifies after the renewal of the District's 36-month clock (June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2029), countable months can only begin the first full month after the client is screened for 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. (Remember, if you are doing paid work where you earn at least $217.50 a week, you are already exempt from the ABAWD work requirements!)
• Be in an approved work or training program for an average of at least 20 hours each week (or 80 hours a month). This could be through SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window) (also known as Workfare). This program, run by SNAP E&T, matches recipients 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.

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.

Note: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients who are subject to ABAWD work requirements will be exempt if they meet TANF work requirements. If you need to connect with the TANF Employment and Education Program (TEP), contact the Office of Performance Monitoring (OPM) in DCWET at 202-645-8205.

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 Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) (opens in a new window). SNAP E&T will calculate your required participation hours by using your SNAP benefit amount and dividing it by DC's minimum wage of $17.95 (required participation hours are often less than 30 hours per month). You will then be matched with a volunteering opportunity at an approved non-profit, faith-based organization, or government agency through a SNAP E&T Provider. Also, you can split hours among ABAWDs in your household.

For organizations interested in becoming a SNAP Volunteer Program host site:

• Learn more about the SNAP Volunteer Program: Overview (PDF, opens in a new window)
• Submit a host site application: Apply (opens in a new window)

Please call our office at (202) 535-1178, e-mail us at [email protected], or call TTY/TDD at 711 if you have questions or to get started.

There are several programs available for SNAP recipients through the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) (opens in a new window) 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.

Recipients 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. Avenue SE, Monday through Friday from 8:15 AM to 4:45 PM.

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 June 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

If you start meeting the ABAWD rules and meet other eligibility requirements, you can get SNAP benefits again by:

• Reporting it to us if other members of your household are still receiving SNAP.
• Re-applying for benefits if your household is not currently receiving benefits.

You can also get SNAP benefits again if something changes in your life and there are reasons you no longer need to follow the ABAWD rules. For example, you may get SNAP benefits back if you have a new physical or mental health reason for not working or because one of the other exemption reasons applies to you.