In order to avoid exceeding the debt ceiling, the Fiscal Responsibility Act was amended to include new proof of SNAP work requirements.
However, they are now contentious among lawmakers and others who fight hunger.
Work Requirements in SNAP Raise Alarms About Nation’s Food Crisis
Supporters of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are concerned that new work restrictions may deepen the nation’s food crisis.
There are new requirements to qualify for food stamp payments under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, a bipartisan agreement to avoid raising the debt ceiling.
Previously, in order to qualify for SNAP benefits, able-bodied persons 18 to 49 years old without dependents had to demonstrate that they were engaged in a job training program or that they worked at least 80 hours per month.
The law, which President Joe Biden signed into law earlier this month, raises the minimum age to 54, with some exceptions for veterans, the homeless, and young adults who were once in foster care.
The USDA anticipates a gradual implementation of the adjustment. Adults 50 to 52 years old will have to abide by the new laws starting in October 2023. Adults up to the age of 54 will be subject to new proof-of-work requirements by the fall of 2024.
The new work requirements were hailed by Republicans who worked on the debt ceiling measure, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as a success for welfare reform because they get people back to work.
Read more: SNAP Proposal: Brecheen’s Act Seeks To Exclude Soda And Desserts From Benefits
Charities Face Growing Demand for Assistance
One in ten Americans face food insecurity, but charities and food banks all around the nation have recently noticed an increase in demand.
The American Red Cross Food Pantry in Boston experienced its second-highest monthly visitation since it opened 41 years ago last month, with a line that was longer than two football fields and longer than some of the worst moments of the pandemic.
At the Atlanta Community Food Bank, more than half of the shelves were empty in April.
Read more: SNAP: Potential Easier Application Process For Alaska’s Food Stamp Benefits In 2023