How have SNAP benefits changed in Pennsylvania?
FILE - "SNAP/EBT Food Stamp Benefits Accepted" is displayed on a screen inside a Family Dollar Stores Inc. store in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., on March 3, 2020. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - Changes to SNAP benefits in Pennsylvania are now underway, pushing some recipients to meet specific work requirements or risk losing their benefits.
Work requirements for SNAP recipients
What we know:
Starting Sept. 1, people aged 18 to 54 without a dependent child under 18 have to meet work requirements to continue receiving SNAP benefits. They need to work, volunteer, or be enrolled in school or job training for at least 20 hours each week.
If recipients fail to meet those requirements, they will only receive benefits for three months within a three-year period. People must report their compliance to the Department of Human Services.
Exemptions from work requirements
There are several exemptions to the new SNAP work requirements, including:
- Those living with a child under 18 years old (this exemption will lower to age 14 starting on Nov. 1);
- People unable to work due to health conditions;
- Pregnant individuals and those caring for an ill or disabled person
Other exemptions can be found online, here.
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Some exemptions will end on Oct. 31, 2025, including for veterans, the homeless and former foster children under 25.
Starting Nov. 1, people between 55 and 64 years old, and parents with children aged 14 or older, will also need to meet work requirements.
What we don't know:
Details on how specific exemptions will be verified remain unclear. Recipients are advised to consult with their caseworker for guidance on proof of exemption.
The Source: Information in this article was gathered from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Resources.