This post was originally published on this site.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — More than 140,000 Pennsylvanians are at risk of losing access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) following new federal work and reporting requirements included in the budget bill passed by Congressional Republicans and signed into law by President Trump in July.
The changes, which began taking effect September 1, require certain SNAP recipients to report at least 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month, of work, education, training, or volunteering to maintain benefits. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) has launched a dedicated website, dhs.pa.gov/work, to help residents understand the new rules, who is affected, and how to comply.
“Nearly two million Pennsylvanians receive life-sustaining food benefits from SNAP every month,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “Our team at DHS is focused on helping Pennsylvanians navigate these federal changes through new resources like a dedicated website, partnerships with community organizations that will help connect SNAP recipients to work and volunteer opportunities, and simplifying processes to make reporting as easy as possible. By working together, we are committed to ensuring that Pennsylvanians who need and qualify for SNAP keep those benefits so that they can feed themselves and their families”.
Under the new law, adults ages 18 to 54 who are physically able to work and do not have a dependent child under 18 must meet the work or activity threshold to retain benefits. Those who do not will be limited to three months of SNAP assistance within a three-year period, with the earliest benefit loss possible in December 2025.
Starting November 1, the requirements expand to include adults ages 55 to 64, parents of children aged 14 or older, veterans, homeless individuals, and current or former foster youth up to age 24.
“These new SNAP eligibility requirements impact thousands of Philadelphians, and no one should be caught off guard,” said H. Patrick Clancy, President and CEO of Philadelphia Works. “When food security is at risk, livelihoods are at risk, and we can’t afford for families to be left in the dark”.
The additional requirements are projected to cost Pennsylvania more than $22 million in staff, operations, and IT system changes. State officials are urging affected residents to keep their contact information current with DHS and the U.S. Postal Service to avoid missing critical benefit notifications.
For details on the new SNAP rules and available support, residents can visit dhs.pa.gov/work.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.
