Which states report the highest number of SNAP disability exemptions and why?

1. Why a simple “top states” answer isn’t in the reporting

None of the supplied sources publish state‑by‑state counts of “SNAP disability exemptions” or a ranked list of states with the most exemptions; the materials are focused on federal rule changes, eligibility criteria, and implementation timing rather than comparative state statistics (available sources do not mention state rankings) ^{[2] [3]}.

2. What the sources do say about who is exempt for disability reasons

The USDA’s eligibility guidance and related reporting make clear that households with elderly or disabled members are subject to special SNAP rules and can qualify for exemptions tied to disability status or receipt of federal disability payments like SSI; medical expense deductions also factor into eligibility for elderly and disabled households ^{[3] [4]}. News outlets and state advisories reiterate that people who are pregnant or medically unfit are among groups exempted from ABAWD work requirements ^{[1] [2]}.

3. Why counts would vary across states even if we had them

Several mechanisms would drive interstate variation: differing population sizes (more residents typically means more SNAP recipients and more people with disabling conditions), state use of broad‑based categorical eligibility and resource rules that affect program access, and preexisting state waivers or administrative practices for tracking exemptions ^[3]. Media coverage and state pages note that SNAP is administered state‑by‑state and that states differ in operational details such as issuance dates and waivers ^{[1] [3]}.

4. How recent federal changes complicate comparisons

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and USDA memos narrowed the scope of automatic exemptions and ordered states to re‑enforce ABAWD time limits and work requirements beginning November 1, 2025; that nationwide enforcement change means states are now re‑screening many recipients and may recategorize exemptions, making pre‑ and post‑November counts not directly comparable ^{[5] [2] [6]}. Several sources emphasize that groups previously automatically exempted will now need documentation, and states will bear the administrative burden of verification ^{[7] [8]}.

5. How administrative practice affects reported exemption numbers

State agencies’ staffing, documentation rules, and timing of recertifications will influence the number of approved disability exemptions: Propel and other reporting warn that many states will require proof at recertification and that some states might start applying rules earlier or implement additional verification, producing short‑term spikes or drops in recorded exemptions depending on process timing ^{[9] [8]}.

6. Conflicting or cautionary reporting to weigh

Some state/local statements and advocacy groups deliver stark projections about how many people will lose benefits under work requirements (for example, a Philadelphia city estimate that a large share of participants could lose access), while federal and national articles emphasize exemptions remain for those medically unfit; these perspectives reflect different agendas—advocates warn of impact, while federal guidance stresses continued exemptions and administrative responsibilities ^{[10] [2] [1]}. Readers should note the advocacy framing in local estimates versus the federal rule descriptions in USDA and national reporting.

7. What you can do to get accurate, state‑level counts

To obtain the precise, state‑by‑state counts the original query seeks, contact individual state SNAP agencies or the USDA Food and Nutrition Service state SNAP directories; the supplied sources point readers to state EBT portals and USDA state pages for local implementation details ^{[3] [7]}. State human‑services offices’ public reports or Open Data portals—if available—are the primary places to find exemption totals.

8. Bottom line for readers

Current sources explain who qualifies for disability or elderly exemptions and show that nationwide reenforcement of ABAWD/work rules began November 1, 2025, but they do not publish a list of which states report the most SNAP disability exemptions; differences across states will reflect population, state policy and verification practices, and recent federal rule changes ^{[2] [3] [5]}.