Beginning July 4, 2025

Able-Bodied Adults without Dependents

• Changes the age of individuals who must comply with the 80 hours/month work requirement from 18-54 to 18-65
• Changes work requirement exception for those with dependent children from households with children under the age of 18 to households with children under the age of 14
• Ended most waivers that excepted work requirements under certain conditions

New Jersey was under a waiver for all counties except Morris through January 31, 2026. As of February 1, 2026, only Camden City and Cape May County are under a time limit waiver.

Learn more at about these changes at NJSNAP.gov.

Beginning April 10, 2026

Applications approved prior to April 10, 2026:

• HR 1 changes listed below to noncitizen eligibility status are effective at recertification
• Households who lose eligibility at recertification due to HR 1 noncitizen changes are not subject to a claim for over-issuance for benefits received during their certification period due to noncitizen eligibility changes

Applications received on or after April 10, 2026:

• Changes the noncitizens who may be eligible to receive SNAP to U.S. Nationals, Lawful permanent residents (LPRs), Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens and Cuban or Haitian Entrants

You must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizen or Cuban Haitian Entrant (CHE) to be eligible to receive SNAP. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizen or Cuban Haitian Entrant (CHE), you may have to reside in the United States for 5 years before you are eligible to receive SNAP although that period can be waived if you meet one of the following:

• Are under 18 years old;
• Have 40 qualifying work quarters;
• Are blind or has a disability;
• At least 65 years old and lawfully residing in the U.S. on or before August 22, 1996;
• Have a U.S. military connection;
• Are admitted to the U.S. as an Amerasian immigrant;
• Certain American Indians born abroad; or
• Certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members.

If you are an LPR, you may have to reside in the United States for 5 years before you are eligible for SNAP, although that period may be waived if you entered the United States as a:

• Refugee;
• Asylee;
• Cuban or Haitian Entrant (CHE);
• Compact of Free Association Citizen (COFA);
• Amerasian;
• Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant (SIV);
• Afghan National granted Parole between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2023;
• Ukrainian National granted Parole between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2024;
• Victim of Severe Trafficking; or
• Deportation Withheld.

For more information visit NJSNAP.gov.

Beginning October 1, 2026

Administrative Cost Sharing Requirement

• Changes the administrative cost contribution required by the state from 50% federal/50% state to 25% federal/75% state

Beginning October 1, 2027

Benefit Cost Sharing Requirement

• Changes the cost of benefits from being fully covered by the federal government to states covering an allotment depending on their SNAP Quality Control Payment Error Rate (PER).
• Amounts that will be required by states based on their payment
  • Below 6% error rate: 0%
  • Between 6% and 7.99% error rate: 5%
  • Between 8% and 9.99% error rate: 10%
  • 10% or higher error rate: 15%