About Benefits Forward
Benefits Forward is a project of Vote Forward. It was created to serve as an additional resource for the people we reach out to and provide peer-to-peer support for regarding new federal policy changes.
New federal SNAP rules
A federal law passed in July 2025 changed the rules for who can receive food assistance through SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Many adults ages 18-64 who receive SNAP will need to meet work or activity rules by completing 80 activity hours per month and report them when they renew, unless they qualify for an exemption. Activity hours can include:
Work (paid or unpaid)
Volunteering or community service
Job training
Workforce or training programs
While these new Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work rules took effect on January 1, 2026, many people are exempt but may not know it. And some groups who were previously exempt may now need to meet the work or activity hours rule if they don’t qualify for another exemption. Benefits Forward volunteers can help individuals navigate these new requirements.
New Mexico Pilot
Benefits Forward has launched a new program, beginning with helping New Mexico residents navigate the new federal SNAP work requirements.
We conduct peer-to-peer outreach to identify households that are currently enrolled in SNAP or may be eligible for SNAP benefits and offer resources to ensure they understand the new work requirements, the exemptions that exist, how to file with the New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA), and more.
Benefits Forward volunteers are available to answer factual questions about the program, and are equipped to re-direct people to the correct government resource for more complex situations.There’s a lot of information out there and we want to help make sense of it all.
This project is non-partisan. Our volunteers are not social workers and cannot determine eligibility, only the state can.
Our approach in New Mexico
Support
Our trained volunteers will offer direct support and help you navigate the new SNAP work or activity rules. This includes walking people through the exemptions and requirements for renewal.
Connect
If you are not yet enrolled in SNAP, our volunteers will show you where you can self-screen for eligibility, apply for food and nutrition programs, and find more information about SNAP federal changes.
Resources
Our volunteers are available to answer your questions and connect you with the resources you need to file online, report a change, find work or volunteer opportunities, and more. Find more information in our Resources section.
Our Partners
New Mexico Health Care Authority
We’re proud to partner with the New Mexico Health Care Authority to ensure the information and resources we’re providing you are accurate and up to date. The HCA has been hard at work sharing information about the new federal changes to SNAP recipients and the purpose of our efforts is to be an additive resource.