Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD)

A SNAP recipient classified as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) can receive benefits for only three months in a 36-month period unless they meet the ABAWD Work Requirement or qualify for an exemption. The SNAP time limit period is April 2023 – March 2026, because Louisiana had a statewide waiver for April–September 2023. A SNAP recipient is classified as an ABAWD if the individual is:

Physically or mentally fit for work,
not living with a child under the age of 14
between the ages of 18 (beginning the month after their eighteen birthday) through 64 (ending the month prior to their 65^th birthday).
Not considered an Indian, Urban Indian or a California Indian.

ABAWDs meeting the ABAWD Work Requirement

ABAWDs meeting the ABAWD Work Requirement can receive SNAP as long as they meet the requirement. An ABAWD can meet the ABAWD Work Requirement by:

Working at least 80 hrs/month
Participating in job training or approved activity for 80 hrs/month
A combination of both for 80 hrs/month

Who is not classified as an ABAWD?

The following individuals are not classified as ABAWDs and do not have to meet the ABAWD Work Requirement or meet an exemption:

Under 18,
65 or older,
Pregnant, or
Physically or mentally unable to work.

Who can receive an exemption?

You may not need to meet the AWBWD Work Requirement if you are:

Taking care of a child younger than age 6 or someone who needs help caring for themselves.
Already working at least 30 hours a week.
Already earning $217.50 or more per week.
Receiving unemployment benefits, or an applicant for unemployment benefits.
Not working because of a physical or mental health condition.
Attending school, college, or a training program at least half time*.
Meeting the work rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Participating in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program.
Indian**.
Urban Indian***.
California Indian****.

SNAP recipients who meet the ABAWD description and believe they qualify for an exemption must contact LDH by emailing LAHelpU.DCFS@la.gov or calling 1-888-LA-HELP-U (1-888-524-3578) to verify and document their exemption.

*An institution of higher education determines what is considered half-time enrollment. Your college, university, or school can tell you your enrollment status.

**An individual is an “Indian” per 25 U.S.C. 1603(13) if they:

Are a member of an Indian tribe.
Indian tribe is defined as any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or group or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Please note, this definition of “Indian tribe” is different than the definition of “Indian tribe” at 7 CFR 271.2.

***An individual is an “Urban Indian” per 25 U.S.C. 1603(18), if they:

Reside in an urban center and meet at least one of the following four criteria:
1. Regardless of if they live on or near a reservation, is a member of a tribe, band, or other organized group of Indians, including those tribes, bands, or groups terminated since 1940 and those recognized now or in the future by the State in which they reside, or who is a descendant, in the first or second degree of any such member;
2. Is an Eskimo or Aleut or other Alaska Native,
3. Is determined to be an Indian for any purpose under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Interior; or
4. Is determined to be an Indian under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Urban center is defined as any community which has a sufficient urban Indian population with unmet health needs to warrant assistance under subchapter IV of the IHICA, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

****An individual is a “California Indian” per 25.U.S.C. 1679(a), if they:

Are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe;
Are a descendant of an Indian who was residing in California on June 1, 1852, if such descendant—
1. Is a member of the Indian community served by a local program of the Indian Health Service; and
2. Is regarded as an Indian by the community in which such descendant lives;
Are an Indian who holds trust interests in public domain, national forest, or reservation allotments in California; or
Are an Indian of California who is listed on the plans for distribution of the assets of rancherias and reservations located within the State of California under the Act of August 18, 1958, and any descendant of such an Indian.

Age Requirement Chart

The age requirement for ABAWDs changed and will update periodically. Please see the details in the chart below.

Effective Date	ABAWD Age Limit	Application/Redetermination Received Date
Current	18-49	Through August 31, 2023
September 1, 2023	18-50	Received on or after September 1, 2023
October 1, 2023	18-52	Received on or after September 1, 2023
October 1, 2024	18-54	Received on or after September 1, 2023
November 1, 2025	18-64	Received on or after Novemebr 1, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does the letter I received mean?

Beginning on November 1, 2025, you can get SNAP benefits for only three months in a three-year (36-month) period unless you follow the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules.

What are the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules?

You must spend at least 80 hours each month doing one or a combination of the following activities and be able to provide proof that you are:

Working,
Volunteering, or
Participating in job training or similar activities.

Please let us know if you are already doing one of these things or if you have begun to meet one of the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules.

You can email LaHELPU@LA.GOV or call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578). In the subject line please state “ABAWD work requirements”.

If your work hours drop below 80 hours a month, you must call us at 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578) within 10 days to report this, or you can email LaHELPU@LA.GOV. In the subject line, please state “ABAWD work requirements.”

I was exempt before; do I have to work now?

Maybe. If you were previously identified as exempt due to being a veteran, homeless, being under the age of 25 and aged out of foster care, or your household containing a child between ages 14- 17, you will no longer be exempt and are subject to the SNAP Time Limit. You are still exempt if you fall under one of the categories listed here. These changes are due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill.

What is the SNAP Time Limit?

The SNAP Time Limit states that adults who can work (able-bodied adults) and have no children under 14 (without dependents) in their household can only get SNAP benefits for three months in three years (36 months), unless they follow the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules.

I can’t call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578). What can I do?

You should email LaHELPU@LA.GOV. In the subject line, please state “ABAWD work requirements”.

Does everyone need to meet the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules?

You may not have to follow any of the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules if you are:

Younger than age 18, or age 65 or older,
Living with someone in your SNAP household who is younger than age 14,
Not working because of physical or mental health reasons,
Pregnant,
Taking care of a child younger than the age of 6 or someone who needs help caring for themselves,
Already working at least 30 hours a week,
Already earning $217.50 or more per week,
Receiving unemployment benefits, or you have applied for unemployment benefits,
Going to school, college, or a training program at least half-time,
Meeting the work rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
Participating in a drug or alcohol addiction treatment program, or
An Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian.

Email us at LaHELPU@LA.GOV as soon as possible, or you can call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578). In the subject line, please state “ABAWD work requirements” if one of these might describe you. If we find that it does, you will not need to follow the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules.

What will happen if I do not follow the new ABAWD Work Requirement Rules?

We will count each full month that you receive SNAP benefits, but do not meet the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules without good reason. Once we have counted three full months, you will not be eligible for SNAP benefits until April 1, 2026.

What is the SNAP Time Clock?

The SNAP Time Clock is the 3-year (36-month) period in which ABAWD Work Requirements are counted. For Louisianans, the current SNAP Time Clock period is from October 31, 2023, to March 31, 2026.

What happens on March 31, 2026, when the SNAP Time Clock expires?

When the SNAP Time clock expires on March 31, 2026, a new time clock period begins. Beginning April 1, 2026, the SNAP time clock will reset. During this period, we will count each full month you receive SNAP benefits without meeting the ABAWD work requirements with a good cause reason.

Once three full months are counted, you will no longer be eligible for SNAP benefits until April 1, 2029, unless you later meet the ABAWD work requirements or qualify for an exemption.

What if I were ineligible, but I was able to meet the requirements, and my case was closed? Do I have to reapply?

Yes, you would need to reapply if your case was closed.

What if my case is open and I just started following the ABAWD Work Requirement Rules? What do I do?

Please let us know if you began meeting one of ABAWD Work Requirement Rules by emailing LaHELPU@LA.GOV. In the subject line, please state “ABAWD work requirements”. You can also call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578) to report the change.

How do I locate an office near me to talk to someone?

You can visit our LDH website for office locations. Visit www.ldh.la.gov, select Health Info & Services, under Children and Families, select Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), then select Find a Local Office. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or call 2-1-1 for the nearest office to you.

SNAP Employment and Training (E&T)

If you receive SNAP benefits, you are eligible for the voluntary SNAP E&T program, which helps you gain skills and training for better job opportunities without affecting your benefits.

Eligibility

You may qualify if you:

Receive SNAP benefits, or are an adult in a household with someone in SNAP E&T.
Do not receive FITAP or participate in STEP.
Can work after the program.

SNAP E&T Services

Personalized job plan
Job search and resume help
Job retention and work readiness training
Basic skills improvement