Following a disruptive U.S. government shutdown, federal SNAP food assistance is again flowing to low-income households. But in the months ahead, many participants will have to abide by new work requirements.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits — averaging around $190 per person — to about 42 million people nationwide. During the first couple weeks of November, many of those recipients missed their regular allotments as the government battled in court over funding for the program during the shutdown.
Here’s what to know about SNAP:
The benefits are available across the country after lapses. For the first part of the month, the situation was chaotic after the federal government indicated SNAP would not be funded. Some states replenished electronic benefit cards either fully or partially using their own or federally ordered funds, while others didn't. Many states also ramped up food charities, but lines were long and shelves were bare. Once the government reopened on Nov. 12, most states hurried to distribute benefits.
By Tuesday, all states had either loaded full November benefits onto people’s cards or were in the process of doing so, with December SNAP benefits expected to be delivered on schedule.
A massive tax and spending bill signed by Trump in July expanded work requirements for many adult SNAP recipients, necessitating at least 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, or job training. Those who don’t meet these requirements face time limits on benefits. Initially affecting adults aged 18-54, the new law also applies to individuals aged 55-64 and parents without children under 14, while occasionally exempting homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care has been removed. States' abilities to waive work requirements in job-scarce areas are also limited.
Although the Trump administration waived these requirements in November, enforcement will start in December, potentially reducing SNAP participation by about 2.4 million people over the next decade.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has raised concerns about SNAP's integrity, alleging the program is susceptible to fraud, including instances where deceased individuals received benefits. She proposed that all recipients should reapply, though it remains unclear if this signals an additional requirement or refers to the existing recertification process. The USDA indicated that regular income reporting and recertification are part of an effort to combat abuse and waste within the program, with varying state rules on frequency.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits — averaging around $190 per person — to about 42 million people nationwide. During the first couple weeks of November, many of those recipients missed their regular allotments as the government battled in court over funding for the program during the shutdown.
Here’s what to know about SNAP:
The benefits are available across the country after lapses. For the first part of the month, the situation was chaotic after the federal government indicated SNAP would not be funded. Some states replenished electronic benefit cards either fully or partially using their own or federally ordered funds, while others didn't. Many states also ramped up food charities, but lines were long and shelves were bare. Once the government reopened on Nov. 12, most states hurried to distribute benefits.
By Tuesday, all states had either loaded full November benefits onto people’s cards or were in the process of doing so, with December SNAP benefits expected to be delivered on schedule.
A massive tax and spending bill signed by Trump in July expanded work requirements for many adult SNAP recipients, necessitating at least 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, or job training. Those who don’t meet these requirements face time limits on benefits. Initially affecting adults aged 18-54, the new law also applies to individuals aged 55-64 and parents without children under 14, while occasionally exempting homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care has been removed. States' abilities to waive work requirements in job-scarce areas are also limited.
Although the Trump administration waived these requirements in November, enforcement will start in December, potentially reducing SNAP participation by about 2.4 million people over the next decade.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has raised concerns about SNAP's integrity, alleging the program is susceptible to fraud, including instances where deceased individuals received benefits. She proposed that all recipients should reapply, though it remains unclear if this signals an additional requirement or refers to the existing recertification process. The USDA indicated that regular income reporting and recertification are part of an effort to combat abuse and waste within the program, with varying state rules on frequency.
