Big changes are rolling out for SNAP recipients starting February 1, and thousands of households could be impacted!
According to NBC Chicago News, under the new guidelines, recipients will now need to either have a dependent under 14 or complete 80 hours of work or approved volunteer service each month to continue receiving benefits.
If you don’t meet the dependent requirement, you’ll need to show proof that you’ve completed the required hours. Those who fail to qualify for an exemption and miss the requirement could see their SNAP benefits cut off.
“Many of our clients are confused about the criteria that’s going to be needed to continue to receive their SNAP benefits. Many of them are afraid because they know they won’t meet that criteria for a myriad of reasons,” said Pastor Sandra Gillespie, the executive director at the Bread of Life Food Pantry.
“If you’re in your 50s and you don’t have a lot of marketable skills, or you have a background, or you have some mobility issues, you can’t go to Amazon and carry those heavy boxes. A lot of the industries they worked in when they were younger, they no longer exist. Where are they going to go?“she added.
Advocates are urging folks to check their eligibility, understand exemptions, and get all their paperwork in order so nobody gets caught slipping.
+ There are no comments
Add yours