After 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 due to legal battles during the government shutdown about funding the program.
Here’s what to know about SNAP:
The benefits are available across the country after lapses. Initially, the situation was chaotic after the federal government announced that SNAP would not be funded. While some states replenished electronic benefit cards using their own funds or court-ordered federal dollars, others did not. Many states increased support for food charities, but long lines and empty shelves were reported. Following the government reopening on November 12, states hurried to distribute benefits; by Tuesday, all states had processed the full November allotments or were in the process of doing so.
More SNAP recipients will face work requirements due to a tax and spending bill signed into law by Trump in July, which expanded requirements for many adults to work, volunteer, or partake in job training for at least 80 hours a month. Failure to comply limits benefits to three months within three years, affecting adults aged 18 to 64, including those without dependent children. Notably, exemptions for homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care have been removed, with stricter conditions imposed on states to waive these requirements. The administration suspended these requirements temporarily in November, but starting December, the three-month limit on work-free SNAP benefits will be enforced. This law is anticipated to decrease average SNAP recipients by around 2.4 million individuals over the next decade.
In a related note, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has raised doubts about the SNAP program, alleging that it is riddled with fraud, including deceased individuals receiving benefits. Rollins suggested that all recipients should reapply, although it's unclear if he refers to implementing a new procedure or simply the existing requirement for periodic income verification. A spokesperson for the Agriculture Department did not clarify and instead reiterated that standard recertification is essential to eliminate fraud, abuse, and waste.
Typically, most households must report their income and relevant details every four to six months, with full recertification every 12 months. For households with all adults aged 60 and above or those with disabilities, full recertification can occur every 24 months. However, some states have imposed more frequent eligibility checks, with 27 states requiring at least some households to be recertified every four to six months last year.
Here’s what to know about SNAP:
The benefits are available across the country after lapses. Initially, the situation was chaotic after the federal government announced that SNAP would not be funded. While some states replenished electronic benefit cards using their own funds or court-ordered federal dollars, others did not. Many states increased support for food charities, but long lines and empty shelves were reported. Following the government reopening on November 12, states hurried to distribute benefits; by Tuesday, all states had processed the full November allotments or were in the process of doing so.
More SNAP recipients will face work requirements due to a tax and spending bill signed into law by Trump in July, which expanded requirements for many adults to work, volunteer, or partake in job training for at least 80 hours a month. Failure to comply limits benefits to three months within three years, affecting adults aged 18 to 64, including those without dependent children. Notably, exemptions for homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults aging out of foster care have been removed, with stricter conditions imposed on states to waive these requirements. The administration suspended these requirements temporarily in November, but starting December, the three-month limit on work-free SNAP benefits will be enforced. This law is anticipated to decrease average SNAP recipients by around 2.4 million individuals over the next decade.
In a related note, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has raised doubts about the SNAP program, alleging that it is riddled with fraud, including deceased individuals receiving benefits. Rollins suggested that all recipients should reapply, although it's unclear if he refers to implementing a new procedure or simply the existing requirement for periodic income verification. A spokesperson for the Agriculture Department did not clarify and instead reiterated that standard recertification is essential to eliminate fraud, abuse, and waste.
Typically, most households must report their income and relevant details every four to six months, with full recertification every 12 months. For households with all adults aged 60 and above or those with disabilities, full recertification can occur every 24 months. However, some states have imposed more frequent eligibility checks, with 27 states requiring at least some households to be recertified every four to six months last year.
