By rssfeeds-admin CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — In addition to confusion about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) related to the government shutdown, changes to the program also went into effect over the weekend that impact who is eligible for payments.
New eligibility standards from the One Big Beautiful Bill which passed in July went into effect on Nov. 1. The bill changes the work requirements for able-bodied people and limits exceptions. To qualify for SNAP, able-bodied people will now have to prove that they are working at least 80 hours per month to qualify for food assistance.
Prior to the change, the work requirement only applied to people ages 18-54 and families with children under 18, but now anyone under the age of 65 and families with teenage children over 14 will have meet the work requirement.
The bill also removed work requirement exceptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults transitioning out of foster care.
The West Virginia Department of Human Services announced Monday that it has implemented the changes to comply with national standards and that the change impacts an estimated 36,000 SNAP recipients in West Virginia.
The changes went into effect amid ongoing uncertainties with SNAP because of the government shutdown. After the Trump administration was ordered by courts on Friday to fund the program during the shutdown, the administration said Monday that it will only be partially funded. After payments were delayed for November, many recipients could be waiting weeks even for the partial payments.
The State of West Virginia is contributing money to meet the added needs from the SNAP delays and encouraging West Virginians who are able to contribute as well. Click here to learn more about donating to help your neighbors in need. To find a place that is distributing food, click here.
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