Up to 80,000 additional Marylanders face new federal work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits starting in March 2026, as changes from H.R. 1 (2025), signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, begin affecting existing recipients during recertification. The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) issued guidance urging residents to review eligibility promptly to avoid benefit interruptions, with the first wave of potential losses occurring this month due to a federal grace period tied to a prior government shutdown.
The requirements, effective November 1, 2025, expand Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) rules to adults ages 18-64 without a child under 14 in the household. Affected groups include adults 55-64, those 18-64 without young children, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth up to age 24. Non-compliant individuals without exemptions face a three-month benefit limit in any three-year period unless they document at least 20 hours weekly (80 hours monthly) of employment, job training, or volunteering.
Exemptions protect certain recipients, including those who are disabled, applying for or receiving unemployment insurance, caregiving for an incapacitated person, in alcohol or drug treatment, receiving Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or deemed mentally or physically unfit for employment via DHS Form 500 from a healthcare professional. The rules apply at recertification for current recipients, preserving continuity for those who qualify or comply.
DHS has implemented supports to ease the transition, including a mobile-friendly Maryland Benefits One Application for multi-benefit access, expansion of the SNAP Employment and Training partner network from 30 to 48 organizations, a new screening tool for exemption identification, and a dedicated H.R. 1 webpage. The department coordinates with the Maryland Department of Health on related Medicaid shifts. SNAP serves over 680,000 Marylanders monthly, including nearly 270,000 children, with an average benefit of about $180 per person.
Residents should check status and recertification dates at MarylandBenefits.gov, update contact information, respond promptly to notices, and contact DHS at 1-800-332-6347 or local social services for questions. In Southern Maryland counties—Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s—local DHS offices handle applications and support, where SNAP aids families amid regional economic factors like defense sector employment near NAS Patuxent River and seasonal work patterns.
The changes stem from H.R. 1’s Section 10102, which modified federal SNAP provisions to impose stricter ABAWD rules while removing prior exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and certain former foster youth. A federal notice excluded November 2025 from time-limit counting due to shutdown impacts, shifting initial effects to March 2026.