This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
Thousands of people in Santa Barbara County will lose access to the country’s largest food assistance program. Monday marks the rollout of new eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California. The changes, passed as part of the Trump administration’s budget bill last July, expand work requirements for able-bodied people in the program. The work requirement to receive SNAP payments (that’s about $6.20 per day in Santa Barbara) mandates a person work or volunteer 80 hours per month.
Here’s what’s changing:
- The federal government has moved the work requirement exemption for seniors to 65 and older. Previously, that number was 55 and older.
- People with dependents ages 14-17 will now need to fulfill the work requirement. Previously, people with dependents under 18 did not need to work to get food assistance.
- Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and those 18-24 who have aged out of foster care are no longer exempt from the work requirement. These changes were slated to occur in 2030 before the budget bill passed.
Additionally, refugees and asylum seekers will lose eligibility for SNAP benefits, unless they have a green card. Refugees must wait at least one year to apply for a green card, and then must wait for the government to process their application, which can take months or years…