We’re writing to provide an update on New York’s Able-bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit waiver.
New York State was informed that the ABAWD waiver was terminated by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) as of November 2, 2025. Litigation in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island has blocked that termination, and as such, New York’s ABAWD waiver for all counties of the State except Saratoga remains in effect until February 28, 2026. Beginning March 1, 2026, ABAWDs must start meeting the ABAWD work rules.
HRA will continue to screen SNAP applicants and recipients for applicable exemption from SNAP work requirements and/or an exemption from the ABAWD time limit.
Some clients may have received the ABAWD Work Activity Letter (FIA-1021k) prior to the reinstatement of the ABAWD Time Limit Waiver. All existing appointments scheduled using this letter can be continued. However, the ABAWD’s compliance with the appointment for the offer of an ABAWD qualifying work activity is not mandatory as a matter of eligibility, and failure to appear will not result in conciliation or the imposition of a SNAP sanction. ABAWDs who attend these appointments will be made aware of the new waiver termination date and that tracked months for failure to comply with the ABAWD requirement would not begin until March 2026. This appointment is separate and apart from any other mandatory work activity appointments or assignments given as part of the individual’s Cash Assistance work assignment or SNAP E&T work assignment.
The related NYS OTDA GIS can be accessed here.
For additional details on ABAWD work requirements, please see the ABAWD webpages maintained by NYS OTDA and NYC DSS.
Community providers can sign up for training webinars on ABAWD SNAP Work Requirements here.
