NY SNAP Work Rules 2026: What To Do If You Lost Benefits
Thousands of New Yorkers opened their mail in June 2026 to find a notice: their monthly food benefits might be cut off. New federal work rules that took effect in March are now threatening SNAP benefits for adults who cannot prove they are working, volunteering, or in school. With the current reporting period ending September 30, 2026, the clock is ticking.
Starting March 1, 2026, New York began enforcing new federal work rules for SNAP (the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, which gives monthly money to buy food). By June 1, thousands of New Yorkers received notices saying their benefits might end. Nearly three million residents rely on SNAP to feed their families — and many are now at risk of losing it.
Who Has to Follow the New Work Rules?
The new rules are called the "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWD) requirements. You must follow them if ALL of these apply to you: you are between 18 and 64 years old, you do NOT live with a child under 14, you do NOT care for someone who cannot care for themselves, and you do NOT have a mental or physical condition that stops you from working. These rules apply even if you are unhoused, a veteran, or a youth aging out of foster care.
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If the rules apply to you, you must document every month that you worked (paid or unpaid) at least 20 hours a week (80 hours per month), OR earned at least $217.50 a week, OR participated in an approved work training program for 80 hours per month, OR volunteered or joined an approved work experience program. For volunteering, the number of hours depends on where you live. Divide your monthly SNAP benefit by your local minimum wage to find your required hours. For example, if you get $300 per month and the minimum wage is $17.00 per hour (as in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester), you need about 17.6 hours of volunteer work per month.
If you miss the monthly requirement more than three times between March 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026, you are at risk of losing your SNAP benefits. Those three months do not have to be back to back. You are exempt from the rules if you are pregnant, receive disability or unemployment benefits, are enrolled in school at least half-time, or participate in a drug or alcohol treatment program, among other reasons.
What to Do
- If you received a notice about your benefits ending, contact your local social services department right away and explain why you think you should be exempt. Ask about a medical exemption form if a health condition stops you from working.
- If you believe your exemption was denied by mistake, or your hours were recorded incorrectly, you can request a fair hearing (a formal appeal of the decision). Free legal help is available from groups like the Legal Aid Society, NY Legal Assistance Group, Legal Services NYC, and others.
- If you live in New York City, the Human Resources Administration's WeCare program may connect you with a health care professional who can complete your medical exemption form at no cost.
- If you have already lost your SNAP benefits, contact your nearest food pantry for free groceries. You can also look into other programs like Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) if you are pregnant or have a child under 5, or senior food programs if you are 60 or older.
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If you received a termination notice and believe you are exempt — for example, due to a medical condition or because you care for a dependent — you have the right to request a fair hearing to appeal that decision, and you should do so as soon as possible after receiving the notice. Document everything: keep records of your work hours, volunteer activities, or any medical conditions that limit your ability to work. Given the complexity of exemption rules and the tight reporting deadlines, consulting with a nonprofit legal aid attorney before your hearing can significantly improve your chances of keeping your benefits.