With the enactment of the mega fiscal and immigration package, stricter work requirements are included to be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.
SNAP was designed to help low-income individuals and families purchase nutritious food. More than 42 million people benefit. Approximately 6.7 million are Hispanic.
The mega fiscal package expands the age range for adults without dependents (ABAWD) who must meet work requirements from 18-54 to 18-64 years old.
This means that more people, especially those ages 55 to 64, will now be subject to the requirement to work or participate in training programs for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits.
Parents whose youngest dependent child is 14 years old or older will now be subject to work requirements. Previously, this generally applied to parents with younger children.
Veterans, homeless individuals, and formerly foster youth, who previously had exemptions, may now be subject to work requirements.
States’ ability to waive work requirements in areas with high unemployment will be significantly restricted, allowing only where unemployment exceeds 10%. This makes it difficult for states to provide flexibility to those struggling to find work.
Individuals subject to work requirements can only receive SNAP benefits for three months in a three-year period if they fail to meet the requirements.
Currently, the federal government pays 100% of SNAP and states 50% of the administrative costs, but now, for the first time in SNAP history, states will be required to contribute a percentage of the actual costs of food benefits if their payment error rate exceeds 6%.
This could significantly impact state budgets and potentially lead states to further restrict eligibility or even consider withdrawing from the program due to financial strain.
The federal share of SNAP administrative costs will be reduced, shifting a larger portion (from 50% to 75%) to the states.
About 600,000 low-income households could see a reduction in their monthly SNAP benefits due to changes in how utility expenses are calculated, according to independent estimates. This could lead to cuts in SNAP spending, and many people could lose some or all of their benefits.
Critics argue that these changes will increase food insecurity and poverty, while proponents claim they will reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, and encourage self-sufficiency.
Let your representatives in Congress know if the changes to SNAP affect you.
