The Changes to SNAP eligibility requirements These new rules are now fully in effect in North Carolina. They tighten access to food assistance for certain adults without dependents, implying new obligations to maintain support.
The changes mainly affect people who were previously exempt and now must meet employment requirements in order not to lose the benefit.
In practice, more adults between the ages of 18 and 64 may be subject to these rules. These rules require them to work or participate in approved activities as a condition of continued eligibility. receiving SNAP.
In this regard, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) estimates that An additional 106,000 adults in the state will be tested. This is due to the expansion of work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.
However, the agency clarified to Enlace Latino NC that "It cannot predict how many of these people will meet the expanded requirement or qualify for an exemption ".
He added that “the evaluation of these requirements is not automatic.” It is done during the initial application or at the next recertification. It is at this time that each person is reviewed to determine if they qualify for any exemptions.”
What are the new requirements to receive SNAP?
Federal law HR 1, passed on July 4, 2025, amended the rules for working adults without dependents (ABAWD). Although it was enacted in 2025, its provisions went into effect on December 1 of that year. They are now fully in force in North Carolina as of 2026.
The changes do not create a completely new requirement, but rather expand and strengthen existing rules. Specifically, the regulations introduced the following modifications:
- The age range was expanded: Previously, the work requirement applied to fewer people; now it covers adults between the ages of 18 and 64.
- Exemptions previously in effect have been eliminated: Some groups are no longer automatically exempt. This includes people aged 55 to 64, veterans, and young adults who were in the foster care system when they turned 18.
- The rule changed for households with children: Living with a teenager is no longer enough. Only people who live with children under 14 years of age are automatically exempt.
- The time limit remains, but its scope is expanded. Those who do not meet the requirements can only receive SNAP for three months in any three-year period. This continues until they meet the work requirement or qualify for an exemption.
Who is subject to the new requirements
The new work requirements do not apply uniformly to all SNAP recipients. They are aimed at adults deemed fit to work without dependents, and their application depends on an individual assessment.
Those who may be affected by these new requirements are:
- They are between 18 and 64 years old.
- They do not live with children under 14 years of age in their home.
- They do not qualify for any of the current exemptions.
This group includes people who were previously automatically exempt and must now comply with labor rules to maintain the benefit.
How to meet the new job requirements
Individuals subject to work requirements must meet a minimum workload of 80 hours per month employment or approved activities in order to maintain the benefit.
According to federal rules, this requirement can be met in various ways, as long as the hours are logged and validated by the county Department of Social Services.
Permitted options include paid work, unpaid work, volunteering, work in exchange for goods or services (work in kind), and participation in approved employment or training programs. It is also possible to combine different activities to reach the total number of hours required in the month.
In North Carolina, the state anticipates that all counties will have the program. More Than a Job NC as one of the ways to meet the employment requirement. Here you can find more information about these programs.
The NCDHHS emphasized that participation in these programs, along with regular communication with the assigned social worker, is key to avoiding suspension of benefits and confirming that the activities performed comply with established standards.
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Which exemptions are still in effect?
Some people remain exempt from work requirements under the new federal law. Therefore, it is important to remember that each county's Department of Social Services will evaluate all exemptions. This evaluation takes place during the initial application or the next recertification.
You may be exempt if:
- She is pregnant (at any stage).
- Receive disability benefits from any source, including VA disability at any percentage.
- The DSS determines that he is medically certified as physically or mentally unfit to work.
- Lives with someone under the age of 14 in their home.
- They are a registered member of a federally recognized tribe or meet the definition of Indian, urban Indian, or California Indian. This definition is based on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
- He is a caregiver for a disabled person or a child under 6 years old.
- Meet another work registration exemption. For example, working 30 hours or more per week, being enrolled in school at least half-time, receiving unemployment benefits, or participating in a substance abuse treatment program.
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