SNAP Navigator

I want to provide information and resources for specific groups who may be affected by new SNAP work requirements.

The groups most likely to be affected by these changes include:

• Veterans
• Persons exiting foster care
• Unhoused (homeless) persons
• Persons with medical or mental health issues that prevent them from working

—–Important Update for Those Aged 65 or Older:

If you are 65 years old or older, the work exemptions you might have had no longer apply to you. This means that even if you were previously exempt due to your age, you may now need to meet certain work requirements to continue receiving SNAP benefits. Please contact your local SNAP office for details specific to your situation.

—–Take Action Now While You Have Time

Don’t wait to start gathering documentation or taking whatever steps you might need to qualify for an exemption from these new work requirements. Doing so will take time, and the deadline for the current exemptions and the implementation of the new rules is approaching.

If you are able to work, you will need to find employment and work at least 30 hours per week. Working a full-time job will almost certainly be a better choice for your quality of life.

—–Guidance for Disabled Veterans

If you are a disabled veteran, you will need documentation that clearly states the limitations you have that make it difficult or impossible to maintain meaningful employment. This documentation can be from the VA or another qualified medical provider.

The documentation must be definitive and clear. It needs to explicitly state that “because of [specific medical condition/disability], Veteran John Doe is unable to maintain meaningful employment” or similar clear language. It must convey that due to your disability, you are unable to meet the conditions of the SNAP work requirements.

—–Guidance for Young Persons Exiting Foster Care

If you are a young person exiting foster care, you should find work if you are able to. If you plan to attend college, vocational training, or other educational programs, certain situations can make you eligible for SNAP benefits.

Student Exemptions from SNAP Work Requirements:

• Age: Students under 18 or over 49 years old are exempt.
• Disability: Students who are physically or mentally unfit for work are exempt.
• Work Requirement: Students working at least 20 hours per week in paid employment are exempt.
• Work Study: Participation in a state or federally funded work-study program is an exemption.
• On-the-Job Training: Participation in an on-the-job training program qualifies as an exemption.
• Dependent Care: Students caring for a dependent child under the age of 6 are exempt.
• Dependent Care with Limited Childcare: Students caring for a child aged 6-11 and lacking adequate childcare to both attend school and work 20 hours per week (or participate in work study) are exempt.
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families): Receiving TANF benefits can also make a student eligible for SNAP.
• Certain Employment & Training Programs: Students enrolled in specific employment and training programs, such as SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), may also be exempt.

—–Guidance for Persons with Medical or Mental Health Issues

If you have medical or mental health issues that prevent you from maintaining meaningful employment, you MUST get these documented.

In the past, economic assistance workers might have accepted your declaration and acknowledged the cost of diagnosis and treatment as a barrier. However, it appears that the ability to accept a person’s declaration will be severely limited going forward.

If you have Medicaid or use the VA for your medical care, you will need to have a qualified medical professional document that your medical or mental health issue prevents you from seeking or maintaining employment. If you have no other way to do so, you may need to go to a free or low-cost medical clinic to get this done.

—–Guidance for Unhoused (Homeless) Persons

Being unhoused is often the most difficult situation, with many barriers to employment such as:

• Lack of access to transportation
• Difficulty maintaining hygiene
• No work clothes or clothes for interviews
• Lack of personal security

Resources are available to help you. We understand that accessing these can be difficult, but here are some options:

• SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Programs: Each state offers a SNAP E&T program designed to help SNAP recipients gain skills and find employment leading to self-sufficiency. These programs can include:
  • Job search assistance
  • Resume building and interview preparation
  • Occupational skills training
  • Work experience or on-the-job training
  • Tuition assistance for short-term programs
  • Support services like transportation and childcare to reduce barriers to work.
• Homeless Shelters and Support Services:
  • Many shelters and organizations providing homeless assistance offer case management, which can help individuals identify barriers to employment and connect with resources.
  • Shelter workers and case managers can also help verify an individual’s identity for SNAP applications if they lack other forms of identification, according to the Food Research & Action Center.
• Local Community Action Partnerships: These organizations can provide a range of services for homeless or near-homeless individuals, including:
  • Emergency shelter
  • Homelessness prevention assistance
  • Rapid rehousing services
  • Financial assistance for rent, utilities, and security deposits
  • Budgeting and advocacy assistance.
• Food Banks and SNAP Outreach: Food banks often can help individuals determine SNAP eligibility and apply for benefits, often with a higher approval rate than self-applications.

It is important for individuals experiencing homelessness to connect with their local SNAP office or a SNAP Outreach provider to understand the specific requirements and available support in their area. They can inquire about the SNAP E&T program and other resources to assist them in meeting the work requirements and maintaining their eligibility.

—–General Advice & Next Steps

Again, if you can work, you really should. SNAP does not replace an income and does not allow you the freedom of choice that spending your own money does. SNAP is meant to supplement a food budget, not replace it, but we know that for many people, SNAP is their only way to acquire food.

Don’t panic!

You have time to take action, and you should consult the USDA website for more detailed information. This is not a comprehensive list—there is no way to address every possible situation in a blog. If you have questions, write them down and call your local SNAP office. They will have the latest, most accurate information. Most states are just putting together how they plan to handle the upcoming changes, so be persistent but patient. Remember, the person on the phone did not make these policies and can only give you the information they are given. Be kind.

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