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How to Meet New SNAP Work Requirements
Older adults may face new obstacles to receiving food aid
AARP (Getty Images,3)
Key takeaways
- Under new federal rules, adults ages 55 to 64 who do not qualify for an exemption may need to document 80 hours a month of work, training or volunteering to keep SNAP benefits.
- Reporting requirements and paperwork challenges have caused some to lose SNAP benefits, so it’s important to watch for notices and keep contact information current.
- Exemptions may apply to people with physical or mental limitations, certain caregivers and others facing qualifying hardships.
If you’re an older adult with a low income who needs food assistance, applying for help has gotten a little more complicated.
New federal requirements for millions of beneficiaries ages 55 to 64 mean many people now have to demonstrate they are working or volunteering at least 80 hours each month to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
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But proving that can be tricky. Filing the paperwork needed to apply for SNAP or to recertify eligibility may present a challenge wrapped in red tape. SNAP is the nationwide food aid program formerly known as food stamps; the name of the program also varies by state.
States and counties began implementing these new requirements in the fall of 2025, after the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that summer, but the timeline for rollout has varied across the country. In some states and counties, SNAP recipients have already lost benefits for various reasons, including confusion about reporting requirements, administrative burdens, difficulty accessing necessary documentation and other obstacles that can inadvertently lead to noncompliance; in others, the new rules may not jeopardize benefits until September.
Those who can’t satisfy the requirements and don’t qualify for an exemption — such as being unable to work because of a physical or mental condition — risk losing their benefits at a time when many are facing an unpredictable job market and rising food prices.
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“Some people are confused why the rule change applies to them when they qualified before,” says Tina England, neighbor services operations manager at Second Harvest Heartland in Minnesota. “We continue to explain this is a change at the federal level, not state, and that it is in effect for everyone who doesn’t meet an exemption.”
On the state level, AARP is monitoring how these rules are implemented to ensure eligible older adults maintain access to the program.
For example, AARP Ohio recently worked with state officials to address concerns about how federal work requirement rules were being interpreted — an interpretation that could have caused some older adults to lose exemptions for which they should have remained eligible. AARP found that several other states were facing the same issue and provided feedback to Ohio officials. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has since clarified the issue nationally.
AARP is working to safeguard SNAP benefits for older adults in other ways too. In August, AARP wrote to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, urging lawmakers to protect SNAP access for older adults as they worked to reauthorize the 2026 farm bill, which sets agriculture and nutrition policy nationwide.
Here’s what you should know to ensure you don’t miss out on food aid if you need it.
How do I know if this applies to me?
State or county-level SNAP offices have reached out to existing SNAP participants about these changes. Some states launched robust outreach campaigns to contact beneficiaries and help them navigate the new requirements.
Miranda Gray, deputy commissioner within Vermont’s Department for Children and Families, says beneficiaries who may be subject to new rules or at risk of losing an exemption will get a phone call from a benefits specialist. The department in Vermont that handles SNAP benefits automatically texts people who are about to lose benefits and encourages them to ask how they can meet the requirement or about potential exemptions.
Other states sent out mailers, dispatched text messages, hosted town halls, expanded phone service and partnered with local food banks, grocery stores and nonprofits to spread the word.
The best way to make sure you get these messages is to keep your contact details current, experts say.
“It’s good to ensure your contact information is up to date,” said Michael Leighs, deputy secretary for opportunity and well-being at North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services. “Watch out for communications from the state in terms of any changes.”
You can usually update your mailing address, phone number and email address in the online portal where you applied for SNAP or wherever you track your benefits. If your state does not have a portal, you can call or email the office where you applied.
Find contact information for your local SNAP office here.
What counts as proof of work?
SNAP beneficiaries who qualify as “able-bodied adults without dependents” and do not meet an exemption must prove they are either working, in a training program or volunteering 80 hours per month to qualify for SNAP benefits.
Depending on the type of work you do or the volunteer program you’re participating in, proof of work can vary. It might look like a pay stub, time sheet, or letter or phone call from your employer or volunteer organization certifying your hours. Your local SNAP office can provide more information about what this could look like.
Hours can vary from week to week, as long as you work a total of 80 hours each month.
“If you miss some hours for a reason outside your control (such as a medical emergency), you can request ‘good cause’ and still be considered in compliance,” according to the Community Legal Services of Philadelphia website.
So if your situation changes, or if you experience hardship that makes reporting to work difficult, alert your case worker right away.
SNAP experts say a good rule of thumb is to bring as much documentation as possible to your eligibility or recertification appointment so you don’t have to return because you forgot something. Employees are trained to quickly sift through documents and upload them.
Some states are also encouraging individuals to participate in job placement programs to help those who need to satisfy work requirements for the first time.
What exemptions will be granted?
Certain people are exempt from these work requirements, including those who are:
- Under 18 or over age 64
- Unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation
- Caring for someone under age 14 in their household or an incapacitated individual
In addition to changing the age requirements, the new federal rules removed previous automatic exemptions for veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness.
You may qualify for a disability exemption if you receive Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, veterans’ disability benefits or state-issued disability benefits.
You may also qualify if you’re deemed medically “unfit” for work or if a caseworker makes this determination based on your situation, even if you don’t get disability benefits.
For caregivers, state offices may require you to submit a state-specific medical form or a physician’s statement, while others will accept a verbal confirmation during the interview process.
You may also be temporarily exempt if you’re experiencing a personal hardship, experts say.
“You could be struggling with the loss of a close family member or the loss of someone close to you,” Gray says. “Other folks might be needing to study for a driving exam so they can have transportation to get to work, and that’s taking a little bit of time.”
A number of situations could count toward an exemption. Individuals should reach out to their benefit specialist to see if they are eligible.
If you’re facing food insecurity, these resources near you may be able to connect you with free or reduced-cost meals.
What if I also participate in Medicaid?
About 4.6 million adults ages 50 to 64 were enrolled in both Medicaid and SNAP in 2022, according to a June 2026 report from AARP’s Public Policy Institute, though this figure is likely an undercount. While there is some overlap between the two programs when it comes their exemptions from work requirements, there are also some differences.
“Many midlife enrollees will face work requirements in each program, compounding eligibility and reporting burdens,” the report says.
For example, SNAP participants are exempt from work requirements if they are considered physically or mentally unfit for work, which could be based on caseworker assessment or documentation from a health care provider, for example. Medicaid beneficiaries may qualify for an exemption if they are deemed “medically frail,” including having a physical, mental or behavioral condition, but this stipulation generally means that their condition significantly impairs their ability to meet the work requirement. Their state must first try to verify this assertion using existing data, but it can ask for more documentation.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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