After a disruptive U.S. government shutdown, federal SNAP food assistance is once again flowing to low-income households. However, many participants will soon need to comply with new work requirements.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits — averaging around $190 per person — to approximately 42 million individuals across the country. In early November, numerous recipients missed their usual benefits owing to a legal battle over funding during the government's shutdown.
The Benefits Are Now Available
The initial weeks of November were chaotic as SNAP faced funding uncertainties. Some states managed to replenish the electronic benefit cards either fully or partially, while others fell short. Many food charities were overwhelmed, resulting in long lines and empty shelves.
Following the government's reopening on November 12, states quickly moved to distribute benefits. As of Tuesday, all states had either loaded November benefits onto the recipients' cards or were in the process of doing so. December benefits are expected to follow the regular schedule.
Upcoming Work Requirements
In July, a significant tax and spending bill introduced new work requirements for many adult SNAP recipients, mandating at least 80 hours of work, volunteering, or job training per month. Failure to meet these requirements limits benefits to three months within a three-year timeframe.
The new law extends these work requirements to individuals aged 55-64 and parents with children above age 14, while eliminating exemptions for homeless individuals and veterans. It also restricts the ability of states to waive work requirements in areas with limited job opportunities.
The Trump administration declared a temporary suspension of the work requirements in November, but the clock on the three-month benefit limit will start in December.
Concerns about SNAP Integrity
Amid the aftermath of the shutdown, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins criticized the program, claiming it suffers from fraud, including deceased individuals receiving benefits. Rollins proposed that all SNAP recipients should reevaluate their eligibility, causing speculations on whether this was an indication of new criteria or a refocusing on existing annual recertifications.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that the regular recertification process is part of fraud reduction efforts. Federal law requires households to report income and essential information every few months, with full recertification every 12 months, though states can impose stricter guidelines.
