On January 16, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Program Purpose and Work Requirement Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 final rule went into effect. This rule reaffirmed requirements laid out in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) with three main provisions governing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — previously called food stamps. These provisions are amendments to the language of the program’s stated purpose, an increase of the age for the exception from work requirements, and new exceptions to the time limit associated with work requirements.
The first main provision changed the SNAP statement of purpose to include language about assisting low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings.
The second main provision edited department rules to reflect the gradual increase of the age for the exception from work requirements that the FRA implemented between September 2023 and October 2024. The FRA raised the age-based exception to working or attending job training for at least 80 hours a month from age 50 to age 55 for adults without disabilities. The timeline for these age exceptions was as such:
- September 1, 2023: The exception to meet work requirements increased to age 51.
- October 1, 2023: The exception to meet work requirements increased to age 53.
- October 1, 2024: The exception to meet work requirements increased to age 55.
The third main provision added new exceptions to the work requirement. Those no longer required to submit proof of work are individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and foster children age 24 or younger.
The rule also reduced the number of discretionary exemptions, which extend eligibility by one month for individuals who fail to meet the time limit to satisfy work requirements, from 12% of covered individuals to 8%.
The final rule was published by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service on December 17, 2024. During the public comment period, which ran from when the proposed rule was released in late April 2024 until the end of May, 41 public comments were received by the department.
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