SNAP Benefits Update: You Can Be Disqualified If You Don't Meet These SNAP Work Requirements

SNAP benefits update has been imposed since October, with the 12.5% increase in cost-of-adjustment living approved for the fiscal year 2023. It will run until Sept. 30, 2023.

SNAP benefit is a program that is administered at the state level, with each state and U.S. territory having its own monthly schedule of payments distribution. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the program.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aims to provide assistance to low-income individuals or households to buy their own meals. Just like any other federally funded program, it has its eligibility requirements to receive monthly benefits.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set three identifiers in deeming an individual or household eligible for the program, such as their gross monthly income, net income, and assets.

The resource limit for households has increased by $250. It is now at $2,750 for the 48 states and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Meanwhile, the assets limits for households will increase to $4,250 for households where at least one person is age 60 or older and is disabled.

Generally, the rule must be that applicants should be at or below 130% of the poverty line.

SNAP Benefits Disqualification

If you surpass the required resources limit, you are automatically ineligible for SNAP.

SNAP counts as cash income from all sources, including earned income and unearned income such as cash assistance, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and child support.

Aside from the assets and income limitations, some categories of people are not qualified for SNAP despite their income status or assets.

Individuals who are on strike will not be eligible for SNAP benefits. All people without documented immigration status, some students attending college more than half time, and some immigrants who are lawfully present are also not eligible for SNAP benefits.

You might also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits if you failed to meet SNAP benefits work requirements.

SNAP Benefits Work Requirements

As a general rule, individuals must meet work requirements to be eligible for SNAP. Such requirements include registering for work, not voluntarily quitting a job or reducing hours, taking a job if offered, and participating in programs including employment and training, if assigned by the state.

Able-bodied adults without dependents are required to work or participate in a work program for at least 20 hours per week to receive SNAP benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period.

In California, you can be excused from work rules if you are under 16 or age 60 years or older; aged 16 or 17 and not the head of your food stamp household; being physically and mentally unfit for work, and caring for a child under six or an injured or sick person.

If you are also participating in an alcohol or drug treatment program that keeps you from working 30 hours or more a week, you can be exempted from work rules.

Those going to school at least half-time; and those employed or self-employed at least 30 hours per week are exempted from work rules in the state.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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