Rachel Pierre, director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, said ahead of the June 1 start date that nobody would lose SNAP benefits on the first day of the new work rules, according to WTOP. Five months later, the department has a count. DHS reports that 1,066 residents have been disqualified from SNAP since the rules began on June 1, and that 1,032 more were identified as at risk of losing benefits on Nov. 1, Street Sense Media reported on Nov. 6.
Two Counts, and What DHS Says It Cannot See
The figures come from DHS and describe two different groups. The 1,066 are people already cut off. The 1,032 are people the department flagged as facing the same outcome, and Street Sense reported that DHS expects more than 1,000 residents could lose benefits in the coming month.
DHS also gave estimates about who is in each group. It estimates that 29% of the residents disqualified so far are experiencing housing instability, and 24% of those flagged on Nov. 1. The department told the outlet it cannot provide an exact figure, because of restrictions on sharing information between departments.
The totals sit against a much larger caseload. WTOP reported in May that about 133,000 D.C. residents receive SNAP and that roughly 18,000 of them would be affected by the change. Federal participation data cited by Street Sense show about 141,000 monthly recipients in July 2025 and about 131,000 in July 2026, a drop of roughly 10,000 over the year.
A Clock That Runs From June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2029
Under the rule, adults 18 to 64 who are not exempt must work, volunteer or train for an average of 20 hours a week, or 80 hours a month. The DHS work requirements page says anyone who is subject to the rules and does not meet them can receive SNAP for only 3 months in a 36-month period…