Can you get SNAP benefits if you’re not working?

Yes, you can get food stamps (officially called SNAP benefits) if you don’t have a job, but there are rules around how long you can receive benefits if you’re not working along with other requirements you have to meet.

Here’s what you need to know about SNAP work rules:

• You can apply for SNAP at any time, even without a job
• Most adults ages 18-54 without children need to work 80 hours per month to receive benefits for more than three months
• Caregivers for children under age six are exempt from work requirements
• Some states and counties have work requirement waivers

Regardless of your job status, your income and household size determine your eligibility and benefit amount. Your job status only affects how long you can get benefits.

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Can I apply for food stamps if I don’t have a job?#can-i-apply-for-food-stamps-if-i-dont-have-a-job

Yes—the easiest way to find out if you’re eligible for SNAP is to apply. Without consistent income, you’ll likely qualify. Just report your new income if you get a job after you apply for SNAP.

As long as your total income is still under the income limit for your household size, you’ll keep getting benefits even once you’re employed again.

Your SNAP office or local community services center may offer job-finding resources including:

• Transportation assistance
• Help to get work clothes
• Resume and interview preparation
• Jobs boards

Can I get food stamps if I’m a gig worker or freelancer?#can-i-get-food-stamps-if-im-a-gig-worker-or-freelancer

Yes. If you’re a gig worker or freelancer (like an Uber driver or freelance photographer), you're considered self-employed. Your eligibility depends on your monthly gross income. Self-employment income may qualify for expense deductions, but each state handles this differently.

Depending on your area, you may need to work a certain number of hours to qualify for more than three months of benefits.

How many hours do I have to work to get food stamps?#how-many-hours-do-i-have-to-work-to-get-food-stamps

SNAP has two types of work requirements:

General work requirements (ages 16–59)#general-work-requirements-ages-1659

If you're able to work—meaning you’re able-bodied—you'll need to:

• Apply for jobs
• Participate in SNAP Employment & Training if assigned
• Accept any job offers
• Not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours below 30 per week without good reason

If you don't meet these requirements, you'll lose SNAP for at least one month until you start meeting them. If you consistently fail to meet these requirements, you could be disqualified from receiving benefits entirely.

ABAWD work requirements (ages 18–54)#abawd-work-requirements-ages-1854

If you're an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD), you must meet both the general requirements and additional ABAWD requirements to get SNAP for more than three months in three years.

You can meet ABAWD requirements by doing ONE of the following:

• Work at least 80 hours per month—the work can be paid, done in exchange for goods or services, unpaid, or volunteering
• Participate in a work program (SNAP Employment and Training or another federal, state, or local work program) for 80 hours per month
• Combine work and work program hours for a total of at least 80 hours per month
• Participate in workfare for your assigned hours—the number of hours will depend on your benefit amount

If you don’t meet one of these requirements, you'll lose your SNAP benefits after three months. To get SNAP again, you must meet the ABAWD requirement for 30 days or fall into one of the excused categories below. Otherwise, you won’t be eligible for SNAP again for three years.

Who is exempt from SNAP work requirements?#who-is-exempt-from-snap-work-requirements

The general work requirements don’t apply to you if you:

• Work at least 30 hours per week (or your income is equal to 30-times the federal minimum wage)
• Meet work requirements for another program (TANF or unemployment)
• Care for a child under age six or someone with a mental or physical disability
• Can’t work due to a mental or physical disability
• Participate regularly in a drug or alcohol treatment program
• Study in school or training at least half-time (college students have different eligibility requirements for SNAP)

The ABAWD work requirements and time limit won’t apply if you:

• Are excused from the general work requirements
• Are pregnant
• Are a veteran
• Are experiencing homelessness
• Are age 24 or younger and in foster care at age 18
• Can’t work due to a mental or physical disability
• Have someone under age 18 in your SNAP household
• Live in an area with an ABAWD waiver—typically an area with a high unemployment rate where the local government has temporarily paused ABAWD requirements

States without ABAWD work requirements#states-without-abawd-work-requirements

Areas with high unemployment rates and a job shortage can request an ABAWD waiver from the federal government. An ABAWD waiver does not waive the general SNAP work requirements.

As of April 2025, the following states have waived ABAWD work requirements:

Alaska: ABAWD time limits are currently waived in 29 boroughs and the Eklutna Alaska Native Village reservation area through October 31, 2025.

Arizona: ABAWD time limits are currently waived in 14 counties and 16 reservation areas through September 31, 2025.

California: California has a statewide ban on ABAWD work rules from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2027.

Colorado: Eighteen counties in Colorado currently have no ABAWD work requirements until September 30, 2025.

Connecticut: ABAWD time limits are currently waived in 68 Connecticut towns and cities through November 30, 2025.

Delaware: ABAWD work rules are currently waived in Wilmington City, Kent County, and Sussex County through September 30, 2025.

Washington, D.C.: There is a districtwide waiver for ABAWD work rules until December 31, 2025.

Kentucky: ABAWD time limits are currently waived in 117 counties through November 30, 2025.

Illinois: Illinois has a statewide waiver for ABAWD work rules until January 31, 2026.

Maine: ABAWD time limits are currently waived in 213 towns through September 30, 2025.

Massachusetts: The Department of Transitional Assistance has a map of areas in Massachusetts where the ABAWD work rules are waived through June 30, 2025.

Michigan: ABAWD time limits are waived in 80 counties, three cities, and 10 reservations from March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.

Nevada: Nevada has a statewide waiver for ABAWD work rules in place until January 31, 2026.

New Hampshire: ABAWD work rules are currently waived in the town of Stratford and Hale’s Location through September 30, 2025.

New Jersey: ABAWD time limits are waived in 20 counties through January 31, 2026.

New Mexico: ABAWD time limits are waived in 29 counties and 18 reservations until December 31, 2025.

New York: As of March 1, 2025, only Saratoga County residents are subject to ABAWD time limits. All other areas of New York are waived through February 28, 2026.

Oregon: ABAWD time limits are waived in 30 counties and 7 reservation areas through December 31, 2025.

Rhode Island: ABAWD time limits are waived in nine towns through December 31, 2025.

South Dakota: ABAWD time limits are waived in seven counties and six reservations until September 30, 2025.

Washington: ABAWD time limits are waived in 38 counties and one reservation area until January 31, 2026.

Wisconsin: ABAWS time limits are waived in eight counties, Racine City, and 10 reservation areas until September 30, 2025.

Can stay-at-home parents get SNAP benefits?#can-stay-at-home-parents-get-snap-benefits

Yes, Adults caring for children under 6 are exempt from SNAP work requirements.

When applying for SNAP as a parent, remember to include childcare expenses on your application. These costs can also be deducted when calculating your benefit amount, potentially increasing the amount of money you’ll get every month.