Lost SNAP Over Work Rules? How to Appeal, Request a Fair Hearing & Reapply

If your SNAP (food stamp) benefits stopped because of new work rules, you have the right to appeal right away. You do not have to wait to reapply either. You can do both at the same time.

In 2026, a federal law called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) tightened SNAP work rules. It raised the work-requirement age limit and removed some exemptions that used to protect certain groups. That is why many people are losing benefits this year who were not affected before.

This guide explains why you may have lost SNAP, how to file an appeal, what counts as “good cause,” and how to reapply while your case is still open.

Article Summary

• The OBBBA work rule now applies to able-bodied adults ages 18 to 64, up from 18 to 54 before July 2025.
• Automatic exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth have been removed.
• You typically have up to 90 days to request a fair hearing, but you must act within about 10 to 15 days (depending on your state) to keep benefits during the appeal.
• Expedited SNAP can pay benefits within 7 days if your household has less than $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources.
• You can reapply for SNAP the same day you’re denied. You do not need to wait for your appeal to finish.
• Losing benefits does not mean losing your case. States must offer a fair hearing if you disagree with the decision.

Last updated: July 2026

Why You Likely Lost Benefits: The 2026 Work Rule Changes

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, made the biggest changes to SNAP work rules in years. It expanded the definition of able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs, to include adults aged 18 to 64, up from the previous range of 18 to 54. It also extended the rule to people with dependents ages 14 and up, who were previously excluded.

At the same time, the law eliminated time-limit exceptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth. These groups now have to meet the 80-hour-a-month work rule, or prove they qualify for a different exemption, such as a disability.

There’s an important carve-out for older adults. Adults aged 60 to 64 remain exempt from the general work requirement, but they are newly subject to the ABAWD time limit — the stricter 3-month rule. This distinction matters because it changes how your state handles your case.

The ABAWD Time Limit, Explained

ABAWD stands for “able-bodied adult without dependents.” As of 2024, ABAWDs are generally defined as individuals aged 18 to 64 who have no dependents under 18 and are not disabled. If this rule applies to you and you don’t meet it, you can only get SNAP for 3 months in a 36-month period.

To keep receiving SNAP past that 3-month limit, USDA’s work-requirements page confirms you must do one of the following for at least 80 hours a month: work, participate in a qualifying work program, combine work and work-program hours to reach 80 hours, or complete workfare hours assigned by your state. fna.usda

Waivers Are Now Much Harder to Get

Before 2025, states could ask USDA to waive the ABAWD time limit in areas with high unemployment or simply “not enough jobs.” The OBBBA repealed the “insufficient number of jobs” waiver option entirely. Now, the Food and Nutrition Act allows states to request a waiver only for areas with an unemployment rate over 10 percent — a bar most places don’t meet. Alaska and Hawaii have some special provisions through 2028, according to Ballotpedia’s review of USDA guidance.

Rule	Before OBBBA	After OBBBA (2026)
ABAWD age range	18–54	18–64
Dependent-care exemption	Any dependent under 18	Only dependents under 14
Veteran exemption	Automatic	Removed
Homeless exemption	Automatic	Removed
Former foster youth exemption	Automatic	Removed
Area waiver basis	High unemployment OR insufficient jobs	High unemployment (over 10%) only

How to Request a Fair Hearing (Appeal)

If you think your case was closed by mistake, or you had a valid reason for not meeting the work rule, you have the right to appeal. In most situations, the government must continue your benefits while you appeal, if you ask for it in time — though you may have to pay the money back later if you lose.

Below are the steps to follow. The exact deadlines depend on your state, so always check the notice you received first.

Step 1: Check Your Deadline

Look at your “Notice of Adverse Action” or denial letter. It will list the exact date and deadline. Federal rules require SNAP notices to allow a hearing request within 90 days of the notice date, but the window to keep your benefits flowing during the appeal is much shorter — usually 10 to 15 days, depending on your state. New Jersey, for example, continues benefits if you request a hearing within 15 days of the adverse-action notice, while Massachusetts requires the request either before the action’s effective date or within 10 days of the notice being mailed, whichever is later.

If you missed the shorter deadline, you can usually still request a hearing later — just without benefits continuing in the meantime. You can still reapply for SNAP while you wait for your hearing decision.

Step 2: Submit the Request

You can typically file an appeal in any of these ways:

1. By phone — call the number listed on your denial notice, usually your state’s SNAP hotline.
2. In writing — fill out the appeal section on the back of your notice, or send a signed letter stating you disagree with the decision and want a fair hearing.
3. In person — visit your local SNAP office and ask to file an appeal.

Some states, like Pennsylvania, allow SNAP appeals to be filed orally, which can be faster than mailing a form. pa

Step 3: Prepare for the Hearing

You don’t need a lawyer, though free legal aid can help. Group hearings may be held if the only issue is a question of state or federal law or policy, but most cases are individual. Gather any documents that support your case: pay stubs, work-program attendance records, medical notes, or a written explanation of what happened.

Hearings can be held by phone or video, and states must still offer disability accommodations and protect your privacy during the process. If you’d rather have an in-person hearing, you can ask for one.

Valid “Good Cause” Reasons for Missing Work Rules

Even if you didn’t hit the 80-hour requirement, you can still win your appeal if you had “good cause.” States commonly recognize these reasons, though exact rules vary by state:

• Lack of childcare — no available or affordable childcare for a child under 6, or a child with special needs.
• Family emergency — a sudden illness or crisis involving a family member.
• Health issues — you were physically or mentally unable to work, even temporarily.
• Unsafe or unreasonable job conditions — the job risked your health or safety, or required a commute over 2 hours a day round-trip.
• Domestic violence or harassment — your safety was threatened at work or elsewhere.

If any of these apply, tell your caseworker and bring whatever proof you have — a doctor’s note, a letter from an employer, or a police report, for example.

How to Reapply (You Don’t Have to Wait)

You are allowed to submit a brand-new SNAP application the same day you’re denied. You don’t need to wait for your appeal to be decided first — many people do both at once.

Reapplying can sometimes work faster than an appeal, especially if your situation has changed. For example, if you now have a doctor’s note documenting a disability, or you started a new job that meets the 80-hour rule, a new application lets the state re-evaluate your case with current information.

Ask About Expedited Service

You may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits within 7 days of your application date if you meet certain requirements — for example, if your household has $150 or less in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid assets, or your rent and utility costs are higher than your combined income and savings. Ask your caseworker directly whether you qualify for expedited processing; it isn’t automatic just because you apply.

Summary of Current ABAWD Work Requirements

If you don’t qualify for a good-cause exemption, you’ll need to meet one of these each month to keep SNAP past the 3-month limit:

Option	What It Requires
Paid work	At least 80 hours a month (about 20 hours a week)
Volunteer work	Volunteering for a nonprofit or public agency
Training program	Participating in a state-approved Employment & Training (E&T) program
Workfare	Completing state-assigned workfare hours

You can combine hours across these categories to reach 80 hours a month. If you can’t find paid work, ask your caseworker about state “individual exemptions” — a limited number of discretionary exemptions some states can grant — or whether you qualify as “unfit for work” due to a documented barrier like chronic homelessness.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Note on State Differences

SNAP is a federally funded program, but states run the day-to-day administration — including notice deadlines, appeal formats, and documentation requirements. Always follow the specific instructions and deadlines printed on the notice you received, since they reflect your state’s rules. If anything is unclear, call your state’s SNAP hotline or local office directly.

Sources

• USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Work Requirements
• USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, ABAWD Waivers
• USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, SNAP Eligibility
• Congress.gov, H.R. 1 – 119th Congress, One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Related reading: For a full breakdown of income and asset limits under the new law, see our guide to 2026 SNAP eligibility requirements.

If you lost SNAP because of the new work rules, don’t wait. Check the deadline on your notice today, call your state SNAP office, and file your appeal or new application before time runs out. Acting fast is the best way to protect your food benefits.