CLEVELAND — New eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program officially took effect March 1, requiring thousands of SNAP recipients across Northeast Ohio to pursue work or risk losing their benefits.
The changes stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress in summer 2025. Under previous rules, certain SNAP recipients were exempt from work requirements, including parents of children under 18 and adults ages 55 to 64.
The new law narrows those exemptions, requiring parents of children ages 14 to 18 along with adults up to age 64 to work at least 20 hours per week to maintain their benefits…