Snap regulations related to children
Executive summary
The 2026 round of SNAP rule changes tightens work and time-limit rules for adults in households with older children, narrows caregiver exemptions to those responsible for children under 14, and allows states to restrict purchases of items like soda and candy with SNAP dollars; these shifts may reduce benefit access for families with teens while giving states new levers to shape nutrition policy [1][2]. Implementation timing and state waivers mean effects will vary widely across the country and remain politically contested [3][4].
1. What changed: a concise inventory of the new SNAP rules
Federal changes enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill and related USDA guidance limit the caregiver exemption so that only households with a child under 14 automatically qualify for the time-limit exception, expand work requirements for able-bodied adults, and permit states to pursue waivers that restrict certain food purchases with SNAP benefits—most commonly sugary drinks and candy—which 18 states are expected to adopt in some form in 2026 [5][1][2].
2. Work requirements: who now must show 80 hours a month
Beginning in early 2026, able-bodied adults without qualifying exemptions—generally ages 18–64—must meet monthly work or training hours (commonly 80 hours per month) or face time limits on SNAP receipt, a standard that now reaches many people who were previously exempt, including some parents when the youngest dependent is 14 or older [6][3].
3. Time limits and the three‑month rule that threatens benefits
The updated policy reaffirms the three-month-in-36 rule for Able‑Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) who do not meet work or activity requirements, and narrows the household exception so parents of 14–17‑year‑olds no longer automatically avoid the time limit unless another exemption applies, increasing the risk of benefit loss after three months [6][1].
4. What SNAP can’t buy in some states: nutrition policy via waivers
USDA-approved waivers let states redefine eligible SNAP purchases; in practice many states are banning purchases of soda, candy and energy drinks with SNAP dollars in 2026, a move framed by federal and state officials as protecting children from highly processed foods, while critics warn it stigmatizes recipients and complicates benefits administration [2].
5. Exemptions, state variability, and rollout timing
Certain groups remain federally exempt—people under 18, over 65, pregnant people, those with disabilities, and caregivers of children under 14—but states retain flexibility through waivers and phased rollouts, meaning some counties or cities delay enforcement or exclude themselves temporarily, creating a patchwork of rules across the country [7][3].
6. How children and families are likely to be affected—and the political backdrop
Policy advocates frame the changes as promoting self‑sufficiency and healthier diets for kids, while advocates for low‑income families warn the narrowed caregiver exemption and stricter ABAWD rules may cut off households caring for teens from crucial food aid during economic stress; these debates are entangled with broader political goals, including pressure to “Make America Healthy Again” and budget concerns embedded in the 2025 law [2][5][3]. The outcome will depend less on federal text than on state-level choices about waivers, enforcement and outreach [3][1].
7. What to watch next and where families can find help
Monitor state human services announcements for local effective dates and waiver maps, watch USDA implementation guidance and state notices for exemption screening procedures, and consult local agencies for recertification rules and work‑training placements; available reporting signals confusion and staggered rollouts in many jurisdictions, so families with teens should verify eligibility assumptions promptly [3][8][1].