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By Aliss Higham
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Thousands of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will keep their benefits for now after federal officials extended an exemption tied to new work requirements, delaying changes that had already begun impacting households in multiple states.
Why It Matters
SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, supporting more than 40 million Americans with low- or no-income in buying groceries. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025, a broader group of adults must now meet work criteria to continue receiving benefits beyond a three-month limit.
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What To Know
On Thursday, Nevada and 15 other states were informed that, because of ongoing litigation, the exemption from work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) would remain in place temporarily.
That means individuals who are now subject to the federal rules will continue to qualify for benefits under the previous rules through April 30.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for clarification on which states are impacted.
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According to reporting by Reno news station KRNV, Nevada's Division of Social Services (DSS) issued roughly $7.3 million in SNAP payments on Tuesday to more than 25,000 people who had lost eligibility on March 1, when the work requirements were activated, for failing to meet them.
Kelly Cantrelle, Deputy Administrator of the Nevada DSS, said in a statement: “This guidance will allow thousands of Nevadans to continue receiving essential food assistance through April.”
She added: “Our team, with the ongoing support of Governor Lombardo, worked around the clock to get these benefits into the hands of people who need them.”
New Work Requirements
The legislation expands the age range for ABAWDs subject to the three-month time limit from 18 through 59 to 18 through 64. They must now work at least 20 hours a week, complete approved training, or qualify for a specific exemption to avoid losing benefits after three months.
The law also narrows who qualifies for a caregiver exemption. Previously, adults responsible for children under 18 could avoid the ABAWD time limit. The new standard lowers that threshold to children under 14, meaning parents and other household members caring for children aged 14 to 17 may now be subject to the work requirement rules.
Temporary exceptions introduced in 2023 for people experiencing homelessness, veterans and certain former foster youth up to age 24 have ended, placing those groups back under the time limit.
The USDA directed states to begin screening applicants and current recipients under the revised criteria starting July 4, 2025. States were also instructed to notify adults aged 55 to 64 that they are now subject to the ABAWD time limit.
Implementation has not been uniform nationwide. Several states, including Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, began enforcing the expanded work requirements in late 2025.
Ohio and Illinois put the new standards into effect in February, while California has said it plans to implement the updated rules beginning in June.
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