Starting this month, some able-bodied people with dependents who receive lend a hand from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program must meet certain work requirements to remain eligible for the benefits. (Photo from Getty Images)
About 36,000 West Virginia residents will be affected by eligibility changes taking effect this month for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.
The changes are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4. The West Virginia Department of Human Services Bureau for Family Assistance announced Monday that it will begin implementing the changes that took effect Saturday.
With some exceptions, able-bodied people with dependents receiving assistance from SNAP must meet certain work requirements to remain eligible for the program. Able-bodied individuals without dependents who do not meet work requirements or an exemption requirement are restricted to three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period.
The Big Beautiful Bill Act made changes to the exemptions for these work requirements.
The federal law now applies:
- Raises the upper age limit for employed people from 54 to 64 years
- Removes exemptions for homelessness, veteran status, and former foster youth under age 25
- Changes the definition of dependents from those under 18 years of age to those under 14 years of age. Now parents and guardians of children ages 14, 15, 16 and 17 must meet the work requirement unless other exceptions apply to them.
- Adds a up-to-date exemption for Native Americans
Anyone with questions about terms and conditions or changes is encouraged to call Department of Human Services Office of Constituent Services at 1-877-716-1212.
Federal legislation has also cut the SNAP program $187 billion over the next decadeand will shift many food and administrative costs to the states, they said non-partisan research organization for health policy KFF. Cuts in the draft budget are expected to result in around three million people losing their food aid.
SNAP currently helps feed approximately 275,000 West Virginians, or one in six residents of the state.
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