Stricter work requirements for SNAP go into effect March 1
Starting March 1, adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who are not caring for a child under 14, must work or take part in an approved job training program for at least 80 hours a month.
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New federal work requirements for SNAP food benefits will take effect in New York on March 1.
The changes are part of the Trump administration's “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law last summer.
Under the new rules, more people will be classified as “able-bodied adults without dependents.”
Starting March 1, adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who are not caring for a child under 14, must work or take part in an approved job training program for at least 80 hours a month.
That work can include paid employment, volunteer work or an approved training program.
Those who do not meet the requirement will be limited to receiving SNAP benefits for three months within a three-year period.
The law mostly changes who qualifies for exemptions from the work rules.
Up until now, adults over 54 were exempt from work requirements, but the age cutoff has now been raised to 64.
People caring for a child will now only be exempt if the child is under 14, as opposed to 18 previously.
Groups that previously received automatic exemptions are no longer exempt unless they qualify under another category, including people experiencing homelessness, military veterans and young adults who aged out of foster care.
SNAP recipients are still exempt from the work requirements if they are under 18 or over 64, pregnant, medically certified as physically or mentally unable to work, or caring for a child under 14. Native Americans are also exempt.
