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Food Benefits

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SNAP Time Limits

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If you get an ABAWD notice in the m​ail, you need to take action to keep your SNAP benefits. Letters were ​mailed ​the last week of April 2023. 

 ​What you need to do​

What's happening

Starting July 1, 2023

Some people will need to start meeting work-related requirements to keep their SNAP benefits. 

  • If you are between 18 and 49 years old and don't have a child under 18 on your SNAP case, the requirements might apply to you. However, you might be exempt from ​the requirements. Read this page to learn more.

Starting October 1, 2023

  • ​​If you haven't received an exemption or started meeting work requirements, you will stop receiving SNAP benefits. 
  • ​You can choose to participate in the ABAWD program​ as a way to meet your work requirements.

Wh​at you need to do

​

Contact ODHS as soon as possible ​if you get a letter about your ABAWD status. Staff will talk with you about your case, see if you are exempt from the work requirements and talk about next steps. They may refer you ​to the Oregon Employment Department so you can make a plan to meet your work requirements through the ABAWD program​. 

Contact us:​

  • By phone at 833-947-1694
    • Phone hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday​
    • ​Language interpreters available
  • ​ By email at snap.abawdteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov
    • Please include in your email:
      • Your full name
      • Your SNAP case number (this will be at the top right of the ABAWD letter you got in the mail)
      • Your contact information and a good time to reach you​​
      • A list of any exemptions you think you might meet, work activities you are currently participating in, and proof of these if necessary

We want to help you keep your food benefits. Please contact us if you get a letter. Otherwise you may lose your SNAP​ benefits starting in October 2023.

What​ is "ABAWD status"

People age 18 to 49 who don't have any children under 18 on their SNAP case are called "able-bodied adults without dependents" and have "ABAWD status." 

Because of federal rules, people with ABAWD status can usually only get three months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year​ period ​unless they meet work requirements or have an exemption. You can keep SNAP benefits for longer than three months if you participate in verified work or work-related activities.

Work requirements for people with ABAWD status

If you have an ABAWD status and do not have an exemption, you can still ​receive SNAP benefits for longer than three months if you participate in work or work-related activities. This may include one or more of the following:

  • Working 80 hours a month. This may be paid or unpaid (volunteering or bartering). If self-employed, earnings must be at least $1,160 per month if ​you have business costs, or $580 if you don't ha​ve business costs.
  • Participating in the ABAWD program for 80 hours a month and completing the work-related activities listed on your ​case plan.
  • A combination of working (paid or unpaid) and participating in work-related activities listed in your case plan for 80 hours a month.
  • Participating in Workfare at the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) rate.

Do I have to participate in the ABAWD program?

  • If you meet work requirements or have an exemption​, you don't have to participate in the ABAWD program to keep getting SNAP benefits.
  • If you only want to receive three months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year period, you don't need to participate in the ABAWD program.

Who may need to meet work-related requirements

People with ABAWD status who live in the following counties: 

Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah or ​Washington

You have an ABAWD status if:

  • You are between 18 and 49 years old, and 
  • ​You don't have any children under 18 on your SNAP case.​
​

Exempt​​ions

Some people are exempt from the work requirements. You may be exempt from work requirements if one or more of these apply to you:

  • You live on the Tribal Lands of the Burns Paiute Tribe; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw; Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation; Coquille Indian Tribe; or Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians.
  • You live in one of these counties: 
    • Baker, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco or Wheeler
  • There is a child under 18 living with you who should be receiving food benefits with you.
  • ​You are pregnant.
  • You are attending school at least half-time.
  • You are caring for a person with a disability, and this prevents you from working.
  • You are attending an alcohol or drug treatment program. This does not include Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) or Narcotic Anonymous (NA) support groups.
  • You are getting unemployment benefits (or have applied and have not been denied).
  • You are working for pay at least 30 hours a week.
  • You are paid at least $935.25 a month for work you do.
  • You are earning at least $935.25 from self-employment and have no business costs, or earn at least $1870.50 and have business costs.
  • You receive money due to a disability.
  • You can't work for health reasons (physical, behavioral or mental health).
  • You have a training plan with a federal refugee resettlement program such as the ​Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO).
  • ​You are working, volunteering or bartering (working in exchange for something other than money; for example, working ​for a place to live). You will need to provide proof.

To request an exemption

​ If you think you are exempt, ​​contact ODHS as soon as possible. ODHS needs to approve your exemption.

  • By phone at 833-947-1694
    • ​Phone hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. 
    • ​Language interpreters available.
  • By email at snap.abawdteam@odhsoha.oregon.gov
    • Please include in your email:
      • Your full name
      • Your SNAP case number
      • Your contact information and a good time to reach you​

​If I lose my SNAP benefits, can I get them back?

If you have an ABAWD status and lose your SNAP benefits because you didn't meet the work requirements, you can start receiving SNAP ​again if you:

  • Have a change in circumstances, such as a new disability, adding a dependent to your SNAP case, or meeting an exemption​.
  • ​Move to one of these ​counties:
    • Baker, Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Curry, Douglas, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lincoln, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco or Wheeler​
  • Verify you have completed 80 hours of work activities on your own.
  • Verify you have completed 80 hours of work activities through a case plan with the Oregon​ Employment Department.