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SNAP Time Limits

Changes coming July 1, 2023

Some people will need to start meeting SNAP work requirements

  • If you are 18 to 49 years old and don't have a child under 18 on your SNAP case, you might need to start meeting work-related requirements starting July 1. However, many people are exempt from the requirements.
  • If you get a letter in the mail that says you have an "ABAWD status," you need contact us as soon as possible. Letters were mailed at the end of April 2023.
  • We want to help you keep your food benefits. Contact us to see if you are exempt or how to meet the work requirements. Otherwise, your food benefits could stop in October 2023.
What you need to know
Frequently asked questions

We are mailing letters to people who are affected

If you get a letter in the mail that says you have an "ABAWD status," contact ODHS as soon as possible. You need to take action. 

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.

Frequently asked questions

"ABAWD" stands for able-bodied adult without dependents. People age 1​8 to 49 who don't have any children under 18 on their SNAP case have an "ABAWD status" unless they are approved for an exemption.

Because of​ federal rules, people with an ABAWD status can usually only get three months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year period unless they meet work requirements or have an exemp​tion.

If you have an ABAWD status, you can keep your SNAP benefits for longer than three months if:

  • You participate in verified work or work-related activities, or
  • You contact us and get approved for an exemption​​
See below for details. 

If you have an ABAWD status and don't have an exemption, you need to do at least one of these things ​if you want SNAP benefits for longer than three months:

  • ​​Work 80 hours a month. This can 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 have business costs.
  • Participate in the ABAWD program for 80 hours a month and complete ​the work-related activities listed on your case plan.
  • Do a combination of work (paid or unpaid) and work-related activities listed in your case plan for 80 hours a month.
  • Participate in the Workfare program at the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) rate.​

If you have an ABAWD status and live in one of the following counties, you may need to meet the requirements:

  • ​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.

Some people with an ABAWD status are exempt from work requirements. If you think you are exempt, you need to contact us and get​ approved for an exemption.

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 a month from self-employment and have no business costs, or earn at least $1870.50 a month ​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.

​If you think you are exempt, contact ODHS as soon as possible. We need 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
      • A list of any exemptions you think you might meet, work activities you are currently participating in, and proof of these if necessary

No. You can choose if you want to participate. This program is one way you can meet the SNAP work requirements.

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

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. This includes things like a new disability, adding a dependent to your SNAP case, or meeting an exem​ption.
  • 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.​