(The Center Square) – The Food and Nutrition Service issued a final rule implementing key provisions, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements, following the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Effective Jan. 16, 2025, the final rule introduces changes to the program’s purpose and modifies work requirement provisions for certain participants.
The Fiscal Responsibility Act addressed the U.S. debt ceiling and reduced federal spending. Signed on June 3, 2023, it suspended the debt ceiling until January 2025.
The Act implemented spending caps in certain areas and expanded work requirements for programs like SNAP.
The final rule expands on SNAP’s program purpose, which includes assisting low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings. This is part of the FRA’s purpose to promote self-sufficiency for those who receive SNAP benefits.
Changes to the time limit for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents were also finalized.
Previously, individuals ages 18 to 49 were issued a three-month limit on receiving SNAP benefits within a three-year period unless the individuals met specific work requirements, known as the “time limit.”
The FRA extended this age range up to 52, increasing the number of those who are now required to comply with work requirements to maintain eligibility.
The rule also defines new exemptions from the ABAWD time limit, including those experiencing homelessness, veterans, and those aged out of foster care. State agencies have been tasked with screening individuals to determine the applicability of the new exemptions before enforcing work requirements.
According to documents, 42.3 million individuals received SNAP benefits in September 2024, averaging $189.55 a month, compared to 40.7 million in September 2021, who received benefits averaging $222.44 a month.
The cost of SNAP benefits has declined over recent years, from $108 billion in 2021 to $93.6 billion in 2024.
