An ABAWD (Able-bodied Adult Without Dependents) is a person who is:

• Aged 18 to 64;
• Not living with a child under 14;
• Able to work.

• You are younger than age 18, or age 65 or older,
• Someone in your household is younger than age 14,
• You receive disability benefits from a public or private source, such as Veterans Affairs or New York State disability benefits,
• You are pregnant,
• You are unable to work at least 80 hours per month because of a physical or mental health reason,
• You are an Indian, Urban Indian, California Indian, or other Indian eligible for the Indian Health Services

Yes. Other exemptions include those who are: 

• A 16 or 17-year-old who is not the head of the household or who is in school or in an employment program at least half-time
• Unable to work because of a mental or physical health reason
• Taking care of a child younger than age 6
• Taking care of an incapacitated person
• Meeting the work rules under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program
• Receiving or applying for unemployment benefits
• Participating in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program
• Enrolled in a school, training program, or college at least half-time (students may be subject to other eligibility rules)
• Already working at least 30 hours per week
• Already earning $217.50 (30 times the federal minimum wage) or more per week
• An SSI applicant or recipient

If you are an ABAWD, you must meet the ABAWD work rules to continue receiving SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 3-year period. This is also known as the ABAWD time limit. Once you use up the 3 months and you are not meeting the ABAWD work rules, you will lose your SNAP benefits. In New York, the 3-year period has a fixed start and end date. The current period started on Oct. 1, 2023 and will end on Sept. 30, 2026.

1. Paid or unpaid work for 20 hours per week (80 hours per month)
2. Learn job skills, approved by the social services district for 20 hours per week (80 hours per month), that can help you earn more money.
3. Community Service/Volunteer (The number of hours you would need to participate in community service or volunteer work is based on your SNAP benefit divided by the state minimum wage.)

Find out if the SNAP work rules for Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) apply to you by using the screening tool available at My-Wayfinder.org.

This new tool takes a few minutes to complete, and helps you take the next steps to keep your SNAP benefits.

RochesterWorks maintains a database of hundreds of local job openings at GreaterROCCareers.com. You can search and filter based on full-time or part-time needs, or by keyword.

My-Wayfinder.org also maintains a listing of volunteer opportunities at local nonprofits. Foodlink is a participating organization, and you can find the most up-to-date listing of volunteer shifts by visiting our calendar of upcoming opportunities.

The amount of hours you are required to participate in approved “Work Experience Program (WEP)” or volunteer depends on your monthly SNAP allotment, divided by the current minimum wage ($16/hour).

For example, if a SNAP recipient currently receives $546 as her monthly SNAP allotment, she is required to participate in a WEP program or volunteer 34 hours per month ($546/$16 = 34.1). Scroll down to see more examples, courtesy of TogetherNow.