ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Thousands of western North Carolinians are at risk of losing access to food assistance next month as sweeping federal eligibility changes take effect under the “Big Beautiful Bill,” also known as H.R. 1.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), counties must begin enforcing the updated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules on December 1, expanding work and time-limit requirements for adults ages 18 through 64 and eliminating several longstanding exemptions.
Under the new law, adults in that age range must document at least 80 hours of work, job training, or qualifying community service per month to stay eligible. The previous exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth up to age 24 will end. Parents will now only be exempt if their youngest child is under 14 years old, down from the previous cutoff of 18…