Work Rules for SNAP Clients

If you get SNAP benefits and are between the ages of 16 and 59, you must meet the general SNAP work rules or the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work rules, unless you are exempt. Learn more about the rules that may apply to you or a member of your household below.

Federal and state regulations make work rules a condition of eligibility for SNAP benefits.

There are general SNAP work rules, and there are special rules for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents. These are called ABAWD work rules.

Below you can learn how to meet these work rules, if you might be exempt, and ways that you can further your career. 

You can also further your education and career while you meet your work rules through the DTA Pathways to Work program.

General SNAP Work Rules

Meeting the General SNAP Work Rules

To meet the general SNAP work rules, you must:

• Register for work at application and every 12 months after initial registration, which is when you “recertify” for SNAP. You register when you sign the SNAP application or recertification form.
• Give DTA information about your employment status when requested
• Report to an employer if referred by DTA
• Accept a legitimate offer of employment
• Not quit a job of more than 30 hours a week or reduce work hours to less than 30 hours a week without good cause

If you must meet the general SNAP work rules, then you might also have to meet the ABAWD work program rules. 

Exemptions

You might not have to meet general SNAP work rules if you are considered “exempt.” You are exempt from the general SNAP work rules if you:

• Are younger than 16 or older than 59
• Are an applicant or recipient of TAFDC or EAEDC benefits
• Are pregnant (in your second or third trimester)
• Are experiencing a physical or mental barrier that prevents you from working (this may be a temporary or permanent disability or illness)
• Work at least 30 hours per week on average or earn more than $217.50 per week
• Attend school at least half-time
• Take part in an employment and training program at least half-time
• Are an unemployment applicant or recipient
• Care for a child under age 6 or a person with a disability (this person does not need to live with you)
• Take part in a substance use disorder treatment program
• Are 16 or 17 and are not the head of your SNAP household 

You only need to tell us if DTA is not aware of an exemption. You can upload a written statement through DTAConnect.com or by calling the DTA Assistance Line to tell us about your exemption. For example, tell us if you are pregnant and in your second trimester if you had not previously reported this to DTA. We will let you know if we need any more information.
 

Good cause

In general, good cause for failure to meet the general SNAP work rules includes:

• Lack of suitable child care
• Family crisis or emergency (such as a death, health emergency, or domestic violence)
• Unreasonable employment situation or employment offer

You must submit verification of your good cause.

If you do not follow the general SNAP work rules

If you fail to follow the work rules without good cause, you will be ineligible for SNAP for a period of:

• 3 months for the first time,
• 6 months for the second time, and
• 12 months for the third time.(If the head of household does not follow these rules for the third time, everyone else in the household will not get SNAP benefits for 6 months.)

Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Work Rules

If you are an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) between the ages of 18 and 53 and you are not exempt from SNAP general work rules, ABAWD work rules might apply to you.

Note: If you are exempt from the general SNAP work rules, then you are also exempt from the ABAWD work rules.

How to meet the ABAWD work rules

There are three ways you can meet the ABAWD work program rules:

1. Work 20 hours per week, averaged monthly (paid or unpaid work)
2. Take part in an approved employment and training (E&T) program for 20 hours per week, averaged monthly
3. Volunteer at an approved public or non-profit organization for the specified number of hours required by your household.

If you already take part in an employment and training program, let us know. Complete the (English) ABAWD training program information request (Spanish) (Spanish) Solicitud de Información sobre el Programa de Capacitación ABAWD.

For more information about how the SNAP Path to Work program can help you get free job training or for information about approved volunteer sites call the SNAP Path to Work line at [phone] or visit the DTA Pathways to Work webpage 

Exemptions from ABAWD work rules

There are exceptions to this rule. If one or more of the exemptions below apply to you, you do not have to meet the ABAWD work rules. If none of the exemptions apply, then you must meet the ABAWD work rules.

You are only eligible for 3 months of SNAP benefits without meeting the ABAWD work rules during a 36-month period. SNAP's current 36-month period (or ABAWD clock) is January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. 

You are exempt from the ABAWD work rules if you:

• Are exempt from the general SNAP work rules
• Are under age 18 or over 53 years old
• Served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Services (including the Reserves) regardless of the conditions of discharge or release
• Are homeless
• Are an individual who was in foster care when they turned 18 and who is currently age 24 or younger
• Live with a child under age 18 (this can be your own child or sibling, or the child of another family you live with but you must be in the same SNAP household)
• Are pregnant (any stage of pregnancy)
• Are participating in non-qualifying activity through DTA’s Pathways to Work
• Live in an area of the state that is exempt as identified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). See section titled Waived Areas below

You only need to tell us if DTA is not aware of an exemption. You can upload a written statement through DTAConnect.com or by calling the DTA Assistance Line to tell us about your exemption. For example, tell us if you are pregnant and it was not previously reported to DTA. We will let you know if we need more information.
 

If you do not follow the ABAWD work rules

If you fail to meet the ABAWD work rules for any 3 months, you will not be eligible for SNAP for the rest of the 36-month period unless you start meeting the requirement or become exempt from the rules.
 

Waived areas

Certain areas of Massachusetts are exempt from the ABAWD work rules. Areas are exempt if they have unemployment rates of over 10 percent, or there are not enough jobs for the individuals living there. You are exempt from the ABAWD work rules if you live in one of these "waived areas."

The 2024 ABAWD waiver map shows the current list of waived areas and is effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. This information is subject to change.
 

Every city/town is waived in the following counties: Berkshire, Dukes, Hamden, and Nantucket.

The following cities/towns are outside the waived counties but are still waived areas:

 

CITY/TOWN	ZIP CODES
ABINGTON	02351
ACUSHNET	02745, 02743
ASHBURNHAM	01430
ASSONET	02702
ATHOL	01331
ATTLEBORO	02703
ATTLEBORO FALLS	02763
AVON	02322
BARNSTABLE	02630
BARRE	01005
BERKLEY	02779
BERNARDSTON	01346, 01337
BOURNE	02532
BREWSTER	02631
BROCKTON	02302, 02304, 02301, 02303, 02305
BROOKFIELD	01506
CARVER	02330
CENTERVILLE	02632
CHARLEMONT	01339
CHATHAM	02633
COTUIT	02635
DARTMOUTH	02714, 02747, 02748
DENNIS	02638
DENNIS PORT	02639
DIGHTON	02715
DOUGLAS	01516
DUDLEY	01571
EAST BROOKFIELD	01515
EAST DENNIS	02641
EAST FREETOWN	02717
EASTHAM	02642
EASTON	02334
FAIRHAVEN	02719
FALL RIVER	02721,02722, 02724, 02723, 02720
FALMOUTH	02541, 02543, 02540
FITCHBURG	01420
GARDNER	01440, 01441
GLOUCESTER	01931, 01930
HALIFAX	02338
HANSON	02341
HARWICH	02645
HARWICH PORT	02646
HOLBROOK	02343
HUBBARDSTON	01452
HYANNIS	02601
KINGSTON	02364
LAKEVILLE	02347
LAWRENCE	01842, 01843, 01840, 01841
LEICESTER	01524
LEOMINSTER	01453
LOWELL	01851,01854, 01853, 01852,01850
LYNN	01910, 01902, 01903, 01901, 01904, 01905
MANSFIELD	02048
MARION	02738
MARSTON MILLS	02648
MASHPEE	02649
MATTAPOISETT	02739
METHEUN	01844
MIDDLEBORO	02346
NORTH ANDOVER	01845
NORTH ATTLEBORO	02760, 02763, 02761
NORTH DARTMOUTH	02747
NEW BEDFORD	02742, 02744, 02745, 02740, 02746, 02743, 02741
NEW BRAINTREE	01531
NORTH DIGHTON	02764
NORTH EASTON	02357, 02356
NORTON	02766
ORANGE	01364, 01378
ORLEANS	02653
OSTERVILLE	02655
PAXTON	01612
PETERSHAM	01366
PHILLIPSTON	01331
PLYMOUTH	02360
PLYMPTON	02367
PROVINCETOWN	02657
RANDOLPH	02368
RAYNHAM	02767
RAYNHAM CENTER	02768
REHOBOTH	02769
REVERE	02151
ROCHESTER	02770
ROCKLAND	02370
ROWE	01367
ROYALSTON	01368
RUTLAND	01543
SOUTH ATTLEBORO	02703
SOUTH DARTMOUTH	02748
SALEM	01971, 01970
SANDWICH	02563
SAUGUS	01906
SEEKONK	02771
SOMERSET	02726, 02725
SOUTH EASTON	02375
SOUTHBRIDGE	01550
SPENCER	01562
STOUGHTON	02072
STURBRIDGE	01518, 01566
SWANSEA	02777
TAUNTON	02780, 02783
TEMPLETON	01468
TRURO	02666
WEST BRIDGEWATER	02379
WAREHAM	02571
WARREN	01083
WEBSTER	01570
WELLFLEET	02667
WEST BARNSTABLE	02668
WEST BROOKFIELD	01585
WESTPORT	02790
WESTPORT POINT	02791
WEYMOUTH	02191, 02189, 02190, 02188
WHITMAN	02382
WINCHENDON	01475
WORCESTER	01604, 01612, 01601, 01607, 01608, 01610, 01603, 01609, 01615, 01654, 01606, 01614, 01605, 01602, 01655, 01613, 01653
YARMOUTH	02664, 02673, 02675

Wright v. DTA Settlement

The Department has agreed to a settlement in the Wright v. DTA lawsuit brought by SNAP clients subjected to the Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work rules. During the week of October 12th, 2020, current and former SNAP clients included in the class will be sent a Notice of Settlement. This notice advises them of the lawsuit and their rights. The notice is also available in Spanish.