What to know about expanded work requirements about to kick in for SNAP
After a disruptive U.S. government shutdown, federal SNAP food assistance is once again being delivered to low-income households. But in the months to come, many participants will have to comply with new professional requirements.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits – averaging about $190 per person – to about 42 million people nationwide. During the first two weeks of November, many of those recipients did not receive their usual benefits as President Donald Trump’s administration fought in court over whether it would draw on reserves to fund the program during the government shutdown.
Here’s what you need to know about SNAP:
During the first part of the month, things were chaotic after the federal government declared that SNAP would not be funded due to the government shutdown.
Some states have restocked electronic benefit cards used in the program, entirely or partially, using their own funds or federal dollars that are part of court orders. Others don’t.
Most states boosted food-related charities, but lines were long and some shelves were empty.
As soon as the government reopened on November 12, many states rushed to withdraw benefits.
As of Tuesday, all states had loaded November’s full benefits onto citizens’ electronic spending cards or were working on them, according to an Associated Press review. Participants should receive December SNAP benefits on their normal schedule.
A massive tax and spending bill signed in July by Trump expanded requirements for many adult SNAP recipients to work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours per month. Those who do not are limited to three months of benefits over a three-year period.
Work requirements previously applied to adults ages 18 to 54 who were physically and mentally capable and had no dependents. The new law also applies these requirements to people aged 55 to 64 and to parents without children under 14. It repeals work exemptions for homeless people, veterans and young adults who are no longer in foster care. And it limits the ability of states to waive work requirements in job-starved areas.
The Trump administration waived work requirements in November, but the three-month deadline for SNAP benefits without work will be in full effect in December.
The new requirements are expected to reduce the average monthly number of SNAP recipients by about 2.4 million people over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
In the wake of the shutdown, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department administers SNAP, cast doubt on the program. Rollins said the country is rife with fraud, including deceased people receiving benefits and some people receiving multiple benefits.
Rollins suggested that everyone who receives SNAP be required to reapply. But it’s unclear whether Rollins was suggesting an additional requirement or referring to the current one that requires people to periodically recertify their income and other information.
An Agriculture Department spokesperson did not elaborate, but said in a statement that standard recertification processes for households were part of a plan to eliminate fraud, abuse and waste.
Under federal law, most households must report income and basic information every four to six months and be fully recertified for SNAP at least every 12 months. Full recertification can occur every 24 months for households where all adults are age 60 and older or have disabilities.
But states may require more frequent eligibility checks. Last year, 27 states required at least some households to be fully recertified every four to six months, depending on their household’s circumstances, according to a USDA report.
