Under new federal rules, to keep or become eligible for SNAP benefits, some recipients will have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours a week (or 80 hours each month) AND report that they are meeting these work requirements.
To help SNAP recipients and applicants find out if they need to meet this requirement, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), has launched a new online screening tool.
By answering a simple set of yes or no questions, SNAP applicants and recipients can find out if they need to meet the work requirements, if they are already meeting the work requirements, or if they are eligible for an exemption.
The screening tool is not a final determination of whether someone is meeting the work requirements or is eligible for an exemption, but it can help recipients and applicants have a more informed conversation with their caseworker.
The new work requirements will apply to Pennsylvanians who:
- Are between 18-64 years old;
- Do not have a dependent child under 14 years old; and
- Are considered physically and mentally able to work
In addition, being a veteran or a current or former foster youth age 18-24 will no longer be an exemption.
Some people may still be exempt from work and reporting requirements if they meet a different exemption.
You can learn more about these work reporting requirements, who they affect, and more about exemptions at dhs.pa.gov/work.