Major changes are on the way for SNAP benefit recipients under a proposed rule that will soon impact all 50 U.S. states.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) latest proposal outlines changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will exempt some claimants from certain time limits and expand the age ranges that the limits apply to.
Commonly known as food stamps, SNAP benefits are paid to low- and no-income individuals and families who would otherwise struggle to afford basic groceries and necessities. According to the Pew Research Center, in the 2022 fiscal year 41.2 million people in 21.6 million households received monthly SNAP benefits.
Generally, SNAP recipients who do not have any dependents can only receive assistance for three months in a three-year period unless they meet specific work requirements. The requirements include registering for work, participating in SNAP employment and training programs if assigned by a state SNAP agency, taking a suitable job if offered, and not voluntarily leaving a job or reducing your working hours to below 30 per week without good reason.
These work requirements and time limits were paused during the coronavirus pandemic, but came back into effect October 1, 2023, meaning those who did not meet the thresholds were subject to losing their SNAP payments.
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As a result, the age range of the time limit is steadily increasing, from 18 to 49 years of age to 18 to 54. This is already partially introduced and will be completed later in 2024, with the FNS outlining the following dates:
- September 1, 2023: the age range increased from 18 to 49 to 18 to 50.
- October 1, 2023: the age range increased to 18 to 52.
- October 1, 2024: the age range will increase to 18 to 54.
Unless otherwise exempt, the proposed rule means those between 52 and 54 years old will need to meet the time limit work requirements if they are to keep receiving SNAP benefits from October this year. Newsweek has contacted the FNS via email outside of normal working hours for comment.
However, the FNS is also expanding the exceptions to the time limit. The proposal outlines that veterans, those experiencing homelessness and young adults aging out of foster care will now not need to meet the time limit requirements to keep their monthly SNAP payments.
The changes are being made to bring benefits in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which was signed into law in June 2023. Other changes have also recently been made to SNAP, with the list of foods recipients can buy with their electronic benefit transfer cards being updated as well.
SNAP benefits are funded by the federal government, but administered by each state and sometimes more locally on a county level, so rules around administration can change depending on whereabouts you live. For more detailed information relating to your area, the FNS recommends checking with your local SNAP agency.
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