North Dakota SNAP Eligibility: What Changed Under the New Federal Law

Thousands of North Dakotans have faced changes to their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) eligibility after a federal bill was signed on July 4th of 2025.

According to Inforum, refugees all across North Dakota rely on the program to help them cover the cost of food while they get settled and look for jobs.

The sources says the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services estimated that around 1,000 refugees, asylees, and certain Special Immigrant Visa holders were affected by these changes on December 1st, 2025, but they weren't the only ones affected by the bill.

New Impact For ABAWD SNAP Benefit Recipients

The law placed stricter requirements for "able-bodied adults without dependents."

Now, ABAWD recipients must prove they work, train, or volunteer a total of 80 hours a month to qualify for the exemption. Certain people may be exempt from this new rule: those with disabilities, pregnant individuals, caregivers, and students.

A county-level waiver was implemented, according to the USDA, which allowed many North Dakotans in those specific counties (Turtle Mountain & Rolette) to continue to receive their benefits through June 30th, 2026.

To be clear, SNAP benefits aren't completely going away; new eligibility requirements are in place because of recent federal legislative changes.