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Pennsylvania SNAP Program to See Major Overhaul with Stricter Work Requirements
Harrisburg, PA – Significant changes are on the horizon for Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), potentially impacting a substantial number of residents who rely on the federal food assistance. Beginning November 1, the Commonwealth will implement stricter work requirements, a move that could lead to nearly 114,000 Pennsylvanians losing their benefits, according to estimates from the state’s Department of Human Services.
These new regulations are part of a broader national initiative, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which aims to tighten federal assistance criteria. Nationally, the Congressional Budget Office projected last month that approximately 2.4 million people, or about 6% of SNAP enrollees across the country, could lose their benefits as a result. More than 1.9 million Pennsylvanians currently participate in the program.
Under the revised rules, individuals seeking SNAP eligibility must meet specific work requirements. This includes working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for a minimum of 20 hours per week, or 80 hours each month, and must report their compliance.
The new eligibility threshold applies to individuals aged 18 to 64 who do not have a dependent child under 14 years old and are considered physically and mentally able to work. While medical exemptions may be available for those with physical or mental health conditions limiting their ability to work, requiring the completion of a SNAP Medical Exemption Form, the scope of these exemptions appears narrower than previous guidelines.
Previously, work requirements for SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania applied only to those between 18 and 54 years old. Additionally, former foster youth aged 18 to 24, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness were previously exempt from these work requirements altogether. The new rules appear to eliminate these broad exemptions, focusing instead on the expanded age range and specific medical conditions.
SNAP is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), with each state responsible for its administration and sharing administrative costs with the federal government.
The push for stricter work requirements has been a long-standing priority for some lawmakers, who argue it encourages employment over reliance on public assistance. However, anti-hunger advocates express deep concern that these changes will exacerbate challenges for vulnerable communities and increase food insecurity.
Carolyn Vega, associate director of policy and analysis for Share Our Strength, an anti-hunger nonprofit, voiced her organization’s apprehension. “We are deeply concerned that the cuts to SNAP will lead to an increase in hunger,” Vega stated, highlighting that many households have little financial flexibility, making “every SNAP dollar very precious in extending that food budget.”
Other advocates warn of the potential for more drastic consequences, suggesting that the changes could fundamentally alter the program as it’s known. Gina Plata-Nino, interim director for SNAP at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit supporting anti-hunger initiatives, cautioned that “unless this is undone, it really is the end— and I’m not being dramatic, it’s a reality— of SNAP as we know it,” as lawmakers continue to weigh further cuts or additional state taxes.