New SNAP Program Rule: Setting Participants Up for Success
The U.S Department of Agriculture finalized a rule on December 4th, 2019 that will be implemented April 1st, 2020 in which able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) are required to work at least 20 hours per week to maintain their SNAP benefits.
Participants that are 18-49, able to work, and don’t have dependents will need to meet the following to receive SNAP for longer than the default of 3 months in 3 years. The work requirements can be met through the following:
- Working at least 80 hours per month (paid work, unpaid, or volunteer work)
- Participating in a work program for at least 80 hours per month (this could be SNAP Employment and Training or another federal, state, or local work program)
- A combination of work, a work program, and volunteering
Although the requirements and the way to prove such requirements will vary from state to state, there are likely to be participants that may be just a few hours short of the 80 required hours. For these participants, volunteering can be an excellent opportunity to satisfy that requirement without risking losing their benefits. A compiled list of organizations and their volunteer opportunities can be found below:
