Starting Sunday (March 1), new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will take effect in Albany, impacting thousands of residents. Under these changes, able-bodied adults without dependents must work at least 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month, to continue receiving benefits. The law also raises the age for these requirements from 54 to 64 and redefines a dependent child as 13 or younger.
The changes stem from the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a federal budget measure passed by Congress in July 2025 and signed by President Donald Trump. This legislation aims to reduce waste and encourage employment among SNAP recipients. However, it has sparked concerns among advocates who warn that many eligible individuals might lose benefits due to administrative challenges.
According to WGRZ, Krista Hesdorfer from Hunger Solutions New York noted that “several hundred thousand people” in New York could be affected. Collin Bishop of FeedMore WNY expressed concerns that eligible recipients might lose benefits if they fail to navigate the new paperwork correctly…