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What are the main eligibility requirements for SNAP?
Executive summary
SNAP eligibility centers on [1] income and assets tests (including Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility in many states), [2] citizenship/alien status rules, and [3] non‑financial rules such as work requirements for able‑bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs); recent 2025 federal changes tighten ABAWD work rules and alter some non‑citizen eligibility (USDA/FNS materials and state explainers) [4] [5] [6]. Coverage in the supplied reports highlights a national re‑enforcement of longstanding ABAWD limits — generally a three‑month cap in any 36‑month period unless meeting 20 hours/week or equivalent — and a rearrangement of who counts as a qualified non‑citizen [6] [7] [5].
1. Income, deductions and assets: the arithmetic that decides most cases
SNAP benefit eligibility and benefit size depend primarily on household income and allowable deductions; states use gross and net income tests, countable assets in some cases, and many now apply Broad‑Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) which loosens traditional income/asset limits — CBPP and USDA explain that households meeting BBCE still must satisfy non‑financial rules and have income low enough to receive benefits [8] [4]. State pages and advocacy summaries stress that household size, earned income, certain deductions (like child care and medical for elderly/disabled), and shelter costs feed into the formula used to set allotments [8] [9].
2. Citizenship and “qualified non‑citizen” rules: tightened by 2025 law changes
Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non‑citizens can qualify for SNAP; the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBB/OBBBA) changed alien eligibility and the USDA/FNS issued implementation guidance requiring states to apply new criteria to applicants immediately and to review ongoing cases at recertification [4] [5]. Federal materials note SNAP has never covered undocumented immigrants, but OBBB altered which lawfully present groups qualify and created a 120‑day variance exclusion window tied to implementation [4] [5].
3. Work rules for able‑bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs): a national re‑enforcement
Federal law limits ABAWDs to three months of SNAP in any 36‑month period unless they meet work or training minimums; in 2025 the USDA ordered full nationwide enforcement starting Nov. 1, re‑instating time limits paused during pandemic-era waivers [6] [10]. The re‑imposed requirements typically require about 20 hours per week (80 hours/month) of paid work, volunteering, or approved employment/training, and many state DHHS sites outline how failure to comply can mean benefit loss after three months [7] [11].
4. Who is exempt or treated differently: age, disability, caregiving and students
Certain groups are exempt from some tests: older adults, people with disabilities, and some caregivers avoid the gross income test and work mandates; students enrolled at least half‑time are generally ineligible unless they meet specific exemptions [4] [8]. State sites highlight additional local flexibilities — for example, Colorado and Pennsylvania discuss expedited benefits, special rules for seniors/disabled clients, and shifting age cutoffs tied to 2025 rule changes [9] [11].
5. State implementation and variability: federal floor, state leeway
SNAP is federal but administered by states, so implementation differs: many states expanded BBCE or changed vehicle‑asset counting, and states set application/verification processes (CBPP and state pages). The USDA’s 2025 memos force national enforcement on some items (ABAWD work rules; alien eligibility), but states still manage E&T programs, expedited benefit rules, and how vehicle or asset tests apply in practice [8] [9] [5].
6. Recent political context and disputes: whose priorities shape the rules?
The 2025 policy shifts stem from legislation and USDA memos tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and a “Republican megabill” referenced in analyses; advocates (like CBPP) warn that some recipients will lose eligibility under the July 2025 law, while USDA frames enforcement as modernizing accountability [8] [6]. State agencies have announced implementation steps and temporary waivers or clarifications in response to federal guidance and events like a brief waiver tied to a federal shutdown [12] [6].
7. Practical takeaways for applicants and recipients
If you apply or recertify, expect states to check gross/net income, asset rules (or BBCE exceptions), citizenship/immigration documentation, and — for ABAWDs — proof of 20 hours/week work or approved activity; expedited benefits may be available for very low‑resource households (e.g., Colorado’s thresholds) [4] [9] [7]. For disputed or unclear cases, the USDA/FNS memos and state human services offices are the operational sources referenced in these reports [5] [9].
Limitations: available sources focus on federal memos, state guidance, and policy summaries from 2025; they do not provide every technical threshold for every state, nor do they detail how individual cases will be adjudicated locally — for that, contact your state SNAP office (not found in current reporting) [8] [9].