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Recent federal changes mean more people in Oregon who need SNAP food benefits for more than three months must now show they are working, looking for work, or participating in training to continue receiving aid.
Oregon SNAP Benefits Affected By New Federal Rules
New federal rules on SNAP benefits have been in place for more than 3 months now and apply to more people than before, including some adults under 65 and households with older children.
Tidings Data Snapshot
Oregon SNAP work rules : key numbersSource: Oregon DHS newsroom press releases dated Dec 11 2025 and Jan 28 2026DailyTidings.com
Oregon is connecting SNAP participants with free employment and training services through WorkSource.
The Oregon centers offer services to help build skills, support job searches, and create new career opportunities so people meet the requirements and stay eligible.
Many people may already meet the requirement through work, volunteering, or other activities they are already doing. WorkSource Oregon partners- the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Employment Department- confirmed the services can be accessed at any one of the 37 centers across the state.
WorkSource offers personalized case planning, job search support, and one-on-one coaching for resumes and interviews.
Participants gain workplace-readiness skills through workshops, connect with education and training programs such as GED or industry certifications, and receive practical support, including transportation assistance, to ensure success in meeting work requirements.
Those living in some areas of Oregon who do not have a nearby WorkSource Oregon center are not required to meet these work rules. This includes people living in Crook, Gilliam, Jefferson, Lake, Morrow, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.
If you are unsure whether the new rules apply to you, contact ODHS. Staff to see if you already meet the requirement or qualify for an exemption. The ABAWD team can be contacted at:
- Call: 1-833-947-1694
- Email: [email protected]
Fewer SNAP Recipients, but New Rules Are Not Translating To Actual Employment
Research on SNAP work requirements shows they often reduce the number of people receiving food benefits, while producing little to no measurable increase in employment.
Research on work rules often finds lower SNAP access with little job upside:
| Outcome | USDA FNS study finding | Reader takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP participation (month 4) | 5 to 41 percentage point drop after time limit reinstatement | Many people lose benefits right when the limit hits |
| SNAP participation (12 months) | 7 to 32 percentage point lower participation one year later | Lower caseloads can persist beyond the first cutoff |
| Employment | Mostly no gains and some states show 2 to 6 point lower employment | Work rules can cut benefits without clear job increases |
| Earnings | Study summary: reduced SNAP participation but did not substantially improve employment or earnings | Job and pay outcomes may not match the policy goal |
While reinstating the ABAWD time limit substantially reduced SNAP participation among those subject to it, there was no evidence that the time limit increased employment or annual earnings.
Further studies have also shown that the time limit reinstatement reduced SNAP participation by 7 to 32 percentage points. It also found that the new rules did not generate evidence of improved employment or annual earnings.
This means SNAP recipients are finding it harder to access benefits, and the rules are not improving the situation by translating into employment and the opportunity to stop relying on SNAP benefits.
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