An important message from the Division of Social Services released March 3, 2026:
Las Vegas, NV — Due to ongoing litigation, Nevada will continue to waive work requirements for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, allowing thousands of residents to remain eligible for benefits through April 30.
On Thursday, Nevada and 15 other states were notified that, due to ongoing litigation, the exemption from work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) has been extended. As a result, SNAP recipients who are now subject to federal work requirements remain eligible until April 30. ABAWD participants are required to complete 20 hours per week of qualifying work activities, otherwise they will be limited to three months of SNAP benefits within a 36-month period. Additional months may be approved once work requirement guidelines are met.
Today, the Division of Social Services (DSS) issued approximately $7.3 million in SNAP benefits to more than 25,000 individuals who lost eligibility on March 1, for not meeting the ABAWD work requirements. Benefits for the remaining recipients subject to work requirements will be issued on a staggered basis through March 10. ABAWDs who received renewal packets in the mail will need to complete and return them to DSS to evaluated. SNAP customers meet with case managers who will discuss time limits and work requirements during interviews for both new and renewal applications.
“This guidance will allow thousands of Nevadans to continue receiving essential food assistance through April,” said Kelly Cantrelle, Deputy Administrator of the Nevada DSS. “Our team, with the ongoing support of Governor Lombardo, worked around the clock to get these benefits into the hands of people who need them.”
SNAP is a federal program that provides assistance to eligible families for buying food. Currently, 433,000 Nevadans receive SNAP benefits.
Visit the web page linked here for general information about SNAP in Nevada.
Timeline of Events:
- Oct. 3, 2025 – The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) notified states that their waiver was ending.
- Dec. 1, 2025 – Work requirements reinstated
- Feb. 27, 2026 – Lawsuit reinstates work requirements waiver to its original expiration date
- March 1, 2026 – Approximately 43,000 ABAWDs in Nevada lost SNAP benefits for not meeting work requirements
- March 3, 2026 – SNAP benefits reinstated
- May 1, 2026 – Individuals not meeting ABAWD work requirements will lose SNAP benefits
Contact: Kristle Muessle, Public Information Officer, kmuessle@dss.nv.gov