Oregon Eases SNAP Work Rules for Seven Rural Counties as Food Costs Rise and Caseloads Hit Record Levels
Starting February 1, 2026, some people who live in certain rural counties and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won’t have to meet the work requirements for the rest of 2026.
SNAP Rules in 7 Rural Oregon Counties Changed
The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is taking steps to protect SNAP access in rural communities, starting February 1, specifically for people living in areas where employment services that help them meet the requirements are not readily available.
This change affects 1,310 people residing in Crook, Gilliam, Jefferson, Lake, Morrow, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.
Source: Oregon DHS newsroom update on rural county exemptions plus USDA FNS FY 2026 discretionary exemption allocations
Dailytidings.com
ODHS will apply discretionary exemptions for people with Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) status who live in seven rural counties without local employment service centers. ABAWD status is given to people aged 18 to 64 who do not have children under 14 living with them and can work.
Federal rules say that people with this status must work or participate in approved job or training activities for at least 80 hours a month to keep receiving SNAP. Under federal rules, ABAWD beneficiaries can receive SNAP for only 3 months, after which benefits stop and they cannot receive SNAP again for up to 3 years, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Although exemptions in the seven counties mentioned are not related to the federal HR1 law passed in July 2025, HR1 did change how SNAP is administered in Oregon and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, the federal program that administers SNAP, allocates a limited number of discretionary exemptions to each state each federal fiscal year.
Oregon received its allotment for the federal fiscal year 2026 in December and is using these exemptions where access barriers are greatest.
Discretionary exemptions will be applied automatically each month beginning February 1, 2026, through December 2026. No action is necessary for people receiving SNAP in the affected counties. To confirm your exemption status:
- Check your ONE Online account
- Contact the ONE Customer Service Center at 800-699-9075.
- Reach out to a local ODHS office.
Continued participation in job training and employment services will not affect a person’s exemption status, and people in the seven counties are encouraged to continue participating.
Oregon Discretionary SNAP Relief Granted Amidst Increasing Demand
About 757,000 Oregon residents rely on SNAP every month- roughly 1 in 6-, including about 210,000 children and 130,000 seniors.
Oregon’s SNAP caseload has surged in recent months due to economic pressures and rising food costs, and hit record levels in late 2025, straining program administration even as federal work rules tighten for some recipients.
The February 1 relaxation for ABAWD beneficiaries will give some welcome relief to those SNAP beneficiaries in the seven counties who are struggling with rising costs. In December, food costs rose as follows:
- Food index +0.7% month-over-month
- Food at home +2.4% year-over-year (Dec 2024 to Dec 2025)
- Food away from home +4.1% year-over-year.
The latest CPI details show how grocery and restaurant prices moved at the end of 2025:
| CPI category | Nov 2025 to Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 to Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Food / all | +0.7% | +3.1% |
| Food at home / groceries | +0.7% | +2.4% |
| Food away from home / restaurants | +0.7% | +4.1% |