Health & Benefits

No. These new work requirements are in addition to the existing work provisions. These work provisions existed before the new work requirements. SNAP recipients must meet both the work provisions and the new work requirements unless they qualify for exemptions.

IDHS has existing work provisions for people between the ages of 16 and 59. SNAP recipients must register with IDHS to find work and provide IDHS information about their employment status. They must also participate in SNAP employment and training, or workfare (if assigned by IDHS), take a suitable job if offered one, and must not voluntarily quit or reduce their hours below 30 hours per week without good reason. There are some exemptions to the work provisions.

If a person does not register for work or meet the work provisions, then they may be found ineligible for SNAP benefits for a certain period.

To keep getting SNAP, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) must do at least 80 hours per month of one or more of the following:

• Working for pay, part-time or full-time,
• Volunteering at an approved organization, or
• Participating in a job training or employment program.

The new rules apply to people known as ABAWDs. This includes people who:

• Are ages 18 to 64,
• Do not have a disability, A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning. and
• Do not care for a child under age 14 or someone with a disability.

ABAWDs must meet the work rule unless they qualify for an exemption.

Yes. A SNAP recipient may not have to meet the rule if they:

• Have a mental or physical limitations that impacts their ability to work, including chronic homelessness, domestic violence, Harm by one household or family member against another household or family member. Harm may be an emotional, mental, or physical injury or other barriers,
• Are pregnant,
• Are caring for a child under age 14 or someone with a disability, A substantial impairment that functionally limits a person in carrying out major life activities, such as walking, lifting, seeing, or learning.
• Regularly participate in a drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation program,
• Are a student enrolled at least half time at an institution of higher education,
• A Native American, Urban Indian, or California Indian as described in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act,
• Working at least 30 hours/week or earning at least $217.50 per week or $935 monthly, including self-employed people, migrant and seasonal contract workers, and AmeriCorp VISTA volunteers, or
• Live in an area with a temporary waiver A document that gives up a legal right or excuses a requirement because of an  unemployment rate of over 10%. As of January 2026, there are no areas in Illinois with this waiver.

There are also separate exemptions In bankruptcy, property that you can protect from creditors. In property taxes, an amount that reduces the value of your home that is used to calculate property taxes owed. for people enrolled in school at least half-time.

The IDHS website has a screening tool that can help people determine if they fall under an exemption to the new work requirement.

People who are receiving Supplemental Security Income A federal program that gives money to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people on a monthly basis (SSI) or Social Security Disability A federal program that gives money to people who cannot work because of a disability Insurance (SSDI) are automatically exempt from the work requirements. They do not needs to notify IDHS or submit any new forms.

People who fall under an exemption, including those who are disabled but not receiving non-SSI or SSDI, must notify IDHS of their eligibility for an exemption. This can be done through the online Manage My Case system, or by filling out a paper form and filing it with IDHS. They can also contact their local IDHS office or Family Community Resource  Center (FCRC) in person or via phone for assistance.

Volunteering means helping at a nonprofit organization without being paid a wage. Some examples of volunteering include helping at a food pantry, community center, library, or church. The organization must be able to verify your hours.

Job training means taking part in a formal program that helps build work skills or prepare for employment. This can include a community college course, an IDHS work program, or a workforce development class.

The work rules start on February 1, 2026. People who must meet the rule should start working, volunteering, or training that month to keep getting benefits without interruption.

If a person fails to meet the work requirements for three consecutive months, then their SNAP benefits will stop. Therefore, if a person is not working, volunteering, or in a training program starting in February 2026, they can get benefits for February, March, and April. If they still don’t meet the rule by April 2026, they won't receive SNAP benefits in May 2026.

SNAP recipients only need to verify their work or volunteer with IDHS when:

• They initially apply for SNAP,

• Their eligibility for SNAP is being redetermined, and

• They are no longer exempt and must now meet the work requirements. 

SNAP recipients don't need to send along proof every month that they're meeting the requirements. They only need to do it in the above three scenarios. They can do this by:

• Submitting pay stubs to IDHS,
• Having their employer or volunteer site fill out a verification form, or
• Showing IDHS proof of participation in a training program.

However, SNAP recipients have existing reporting requirements on top of the new rules. They must report any change that could affect their household's SNAP eligibility or the amount of SNAP benefits received within 10 days of learning of the change. This includes when a person fails to meet their required 80 hours of work or volunteering in one month. The SNAP recipient must report that they didn't meet their hours. This might be excused if they can show IDHS that they weren't able to complete their hours with "good cause." A legally acceptable reason to do something Good cause means that something happened, outside of the SNAP recipient's control, that prevented them from meeting their hours. This can include an illness, a lack of transportation, or a household emergency.

If you’re not sure whether the work rule applies to you, contact:

• Your local IDHS office, or
• Use our free Get Legal Help tool to connect with legal aid attorneys.

The IDHS website has a screening tool that can help people determine if they fall under an exemption to the work rule.