Government programs are no strangers to revisions, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the latest to undergo significant changes.
A number of forthcoming changes to SNAP benefits have been verified by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture and are scheduled to go into effect in the future month.
Revamping SNAP Benefits
These changes, stemming from the Fiscal Responsibility Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in June, are poised to impact a specific group of SNAP beneficiaries: able-bodied adults without dependents, known as ABAWDs, aged 50 to 54.
For context, ABAWDs aged 18 to 49 have long been required to demonstrate their active engagement in work, education, or training for a minimum of 80 hours each month to maintain eligibility for SNAP benefits beyond three months.
However, these requirements will soon extend to older age groups, beginning on September 1.
Starting from this date, individuals who fall within the 50-year-old age bracket and fall under the ABAWD classification must also meet these work prerequisites to continue receiving SNAP benefits.
The transition will continue on October 1, 2023, when the age threshold for these requirements increases to 52, and then again on October 1, 2024, when it expands further to 54.
Read more: IRS Celebrates Enhanced Customer Service Year After Funding Boost
New Exemptions Introduced
Amidst these changes, the revised system introduces three significant exemptions to these stringent work demands.
According to a spokesperson from the USDA, homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aged 18 to 24 who have aged out of foster care will be exempt from these new work requirements.
Furthermore, individuals who are physically or mentally unable to work, pregnant women, and those with children aged 18 or younger residing in their households will also qualify for these exemptions.
However, while broader eligibility for exemptions is being introduced, state agencies responsible for administering SNAP benefits will face constraints in granting them.
According to a USDA spokeswoman, starting on October 1, 2023, the annual allotment of individual ABAWD discretionary exemptions for state agencies will drop from 12 to 8 percent of the caseload subject to the ABAWD time limit.
In practical terms, individuals who fail to meet the newly established work requirements will only be eligible for SNAP benefits for a maximum of three months within a three-year period. These requirements are expected to remain in effect until October 1, 2030.
As the SNAP program continues to evolve, these impending changes highlight a significant shift in eligibility requirements, particularly for the ABAWD group aged 50 to 54.
While the new work prerequisites are set to become more stringent, certain exemptions offer relief to homeless individuals, veterans, young adults transitioning out of foster care, and those facing physical or mental limitations.
These modifications aim to strike a balance between encouraging self-sufficiency and ensuring support for vulnerable populations.
Read more: Abortion Drug Limits Gain Appeals Court Support, Awaiting Supreme Court Verdict
