About 70,000 people could lose their food stamps after changes to SNAP program requirements

The SNAP program will add new eligibility requirements. More than 70,000 people are at risk of losing their food stamps.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the United States plans to implement new changes to eligibility requirements.

If all the predicted changes are implemented, more than 75 thousand people, including children, will be affected.

In West Virginia, for example, a bill proposed by local legislators on the issue is under review.

“As of writing, it is taking food aid away from 75,000 West Virginians, including 30,000 children.” Caitlin Cook, director of advocacy and public policy for the Mountaineer Food Bank, said:

The project is currently in the Senate Workforce Committee. However, it is estimated that it has enormous chances of becoming a law soon. A key promoter of the idea is Sen. Roland Roberts, R-Raleigh.

Changes from 2023

It is true that the SNAP program has undergone many changes since last year. One of them is the requirement that people in a certain age range meet the job requirements.

Likewise, some of the income limits requested in each state were modified.

However, if SB 562 is passed, state agencies would assign SNAP recipients to a job or training program to maintain food benefits.

All this unless they work around 30 hours a week or are under one of the established exemptions.

Rhonda Rogomb, a Health and Safety Network policy analyst at the West Virginia Budget and Policy Center, also weighed in on the issue.

“There are a lot of classist assumptions about people enrolled in SNAP, and I think this bill deeply reflects that.”

Official data from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources shows that one in six state residents were part of the SNAP program in 2023.