Congressional SNAP restrictions in effect in Pennsylvania

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(The Center Square) - The budget bill signed into law by President Donald Trump in July included major changes to the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, including new work requirements for some recipients.

The Shapiro administration expects that to put 144,000 of the state’s two million SNAP recipients, 45,000 in Philadelphia alone, at risk of losing their benefits.

Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh visited Philadelphia Works, the city’s employment assistance program, to help illuminate the changes facing SNAP recipients, which went into effect on the first of the month.

“There’s a real risk that these stricter administrative requirements will cause people to lose access to their benefits, not because they’re not eligible for those benefits,” said Arkoosh, stressing the point. “That doesn’t mean that they’re not eligible but because they have to navigate a whole bunch of new red tape.

One of the issues facing SNAP recipients is the expiration of pandemic-era work waivers, which exempted people from existing work requirements. Now, those aged 18-54 who do not have dependents under the age of 18 and are physically and mentally able must work, volunteer, or be enrolled in education or job training for a combined amount of at least 20 hours per week.

While the majority of recipients are already working or otherwise meeting the requirements, the obligation to report it to the state is new. Without meeting the requirements, they are only eligible for three months of SNAP within a three year period.

Arkoosh said they anticipate that new federal requirements that further restrict eligibility will go into effect in November. These requirements increase the age of those who need to report to 64. They also reduce the age of dependents to 14. Therefore, parents of teenagers 15 and up are required to report the minimum 80 hours per month to receive benefits for their families.

Additionally, the new federal legislation ends SNAP provisions for veterans, unhoused people and current or former foster children aged 18 to 24. Arkoosh noted that her team is working on exemptions for the homeless population as very few would be able to meet the demands of reporting to the Department of Human Services.

Many of those who do fail to meet the requirements are overloaded with unpaid work, like caregiving for family members including young children, those with disabilities, and older adults.

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but that access to healthy food is what enables people to go to school and learn or to get to work or to volunteer in the first place,” said Arkoosh.

The agency began surveying SNAP recipients last month in order to help them understand if and how they can meet the new requirements. They also launched a website to help people navigate the changes. Arkoosh encouraged individuals to create volunteer opportunities in their communities to help some people retain SNAP benefits.

Arkoosh also warned recipients and those working with clients to make sure that home addresses are up to date both with the state Department of Human Services and the post office to avoid challenges with federal processes. She also gave a warning about never before seen community requirements for Medicaid and twice yearly eligibility recertifications, which will go into effect in 2027.

In addition to the burden it places on recipients, Arkoosh noted that it will create a huge administrative burden for her department and those across the country charged with administering federal programs.

“There’s just really no basis for it except to separate people who are eligible for benefits from their benefits because of this incredible set of barriers and red tape that is being thrown up to get between them and their benefits," she said.