Increased work requirements are set to be implemented for certain welfare programs as a result of the debt ceiling deal negotiated by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is one of the programs set to have its work requirements increased as part of cuts brokered in the deal to prevent the United States from defaulting on its loans. Here are the changes coming to the program if the bill is passed.
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What are the new requirements?
The debt ceiling deal changes the age range for able-bodied adults who do not have dependents and requires them to work at least 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month, to receive benefits from the program. The current age range for those required to work for benefits is 18 to 49 years old, but the range would be expanded by five years to 18 to 54 years old.
If they are unable to fulfill the requirements, they will only be eligible for benefits for three months every three years.
Another change to the program under the deal includes a requirement for the Department of Agriculture to make public the applications that states submit to waive the work requirement for places with high unemployment. It also reduces the number of exemptions from 12% of total beneficiaries to 8%.
What parts of SNAP are being expanded?
Despite increased work requirements, the Congressional Budget Office expects "78,000 people would gain benefits in an average month" thanks to new exemptions built into the debt ceiling deal.
The new groups exempt from the work requirements include homeless people, veterans, and adults aged 18-24 who were in foster care when they turned 18.
Will this affect the amount SNAP beneficiaries receive?
The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 will not change the benefit amount for SNAP recipients, as it only affects the requirements to receive the benefits from the program.
Beneficiaries of SNAP saw their benefits shrink in 2023 in comparison to recent years due to a pandemic-era program ending at the end of February. The benefits were boosted during the pandemic by emergency allotments that stopped as the pandemic ended, resulting in lower benefit amounts.
When will the requirements go into place?
The increased work requirements would go into effect in stages, with the range being moved to 18 to 52 years old for fiscal 2024 and the range being increased to 18 to 54 years old in fiscal 2025 at the earliest.
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The increased work requirements would expire on Oct. 1, 2030, under this bill, but the reduction in the percentage of applications permitted to waive the work requirements would be permanent.
For these changes to be implemented, the debt ceiling deal must pass Congress and be signed into law by Biden. The bill is expected to be voted on in the House on Wednesday evening, with a Senate vote expected shortly after.