A change tucked into last summer’s tax-and-spending law is now reshaping who can keep food assistance, and it lands squarely on older Americans who are not yet old enough for Social Security. Adults between 55 and 64 who were previously exempt from federal work rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program must now document 80 hours of work, training, or volunteering every month to keep receiving benefits.
The requirement is already in force, not something looming in the distance. For a 61-year-old who has been laid off, is caring for an aging spouse, or is managing a health condition that falls short of a formal disability, the new math can mean losing grocery help within a few months.
How the ABAWD age band jumped to 64
The rule flows from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, signed in July 2025. It raised the age range for what SNAP calls able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs, from 18 through 54 to 18 through 64. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s work-requirements guidance lays out, adults in that band who cannot claim an exemption may receive benefits for only three months in any 36-month period unless they meet the work threshold. That means millions of people in their late 50s and early 60s who never had to prove work hours before now do.
The 80 hours can be met through a paid job, an approved work or training program, or a combination, and the department notes the activity does not have to be paid — volunteer or community service work counts. Implementation began March 1, 2026, so the clock is already running for people who fall under the expanded band.
The three-month limit is the trap that catches people off guard. An adult in the affected band who cannot document 80 hours can receive SNAP for only three months in any 36-month stretch, after which benefits stop until the requirement is met or an exemption applies. For someone between jobs at 60, that clock can run out before a new position materializes, turning a temporary gap in work into a lasting loss of food help.
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Exemptions that still shield some older adults
Not everyone in the 55-to-64 range is subject to the requirement. According to an analysis of the changes, exemptions remain for people who are physically or mentally unable to work, those who are pregnant, and certain caregivers, among others. But the law also narrowed some exemptions that used to apply more broadly, including protections for veterans and for caregivers of older children, which pulls more people into the work-hour rule than before.
The practical problem is documentation. An older adult who is exempt on paper still has to prove it to a state agency, and a missed form or a caseworker’s error can cut off benefits just as effectively as failing to work the hours. That makes it worth confirming exemption status in writing rather than assuming a health condition or caregiving role will be recognized automatically.
States also retain some flexibility in how they apply the rules, including limited waivers in areas with high unemployment and a set number of discretionary exemptions they can grant. Because those decisions vary from state to state, two people in identical circumstances can face different outcomes depending on where they live. An older adult uncertain about their status is better served asking the state agency directly than relying on a neighbor’s experience or a general summary of the federal law.
What the loss of SNAP means for a tight retirement budget
For households living on a fixed or interrupted income before retirement, SNAP is often the difference between covering groceries and going without. Losing it can force painful tradeoffs against rent, medication, and utility bills at an age when finding 80 hours of qualifying work each month is genuinely harder. Congressional budget analysts have estimated that the broader SNAP changes will push benefit losses into the millions of people once the rules are fully in place.
There are also steps that can preserve benefits for people genuinely able to meet the requirement. Many states run employment and training programs that count toward the 80 hours and can help an older worker document participation, and community organizations often coordinate volunteer placements that qualify. Treating those options as a way to satisfy the rule, rather than waiting to see whether a benefit is cut, is generally the safer path for someone determined to keep assistance.
Anyone in the affected age range who relies on SNAP has reason to act rather than wait for a termination notice. That means checking with the state SNAP agency about which activities count toward the 80 hours, whether an exemption applies, and how to report hours so a benefit is not cut for a paperwork gap. The rule is national, but the way it is administered — the forms, the reporting deadlines, the accepted proof — runs through each state, and that is where an eligible older adult is most likely to lose benefits by accident.
This article was researched and drafted with the assistance of AI and reviewed by The Financial Wire editorial team.
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Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
