President Joe Biden gave the nod to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 this past June. With it came a slew of adjustments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. One important change is being applied to the age criterion for the Able-bodied adults without dependents, abbreviated as ABAWDs: before the adjudtments, if you were between 18 and 49, you’d have to clock in 80 work hours monthly or get yourself into a training course to be SNAP-eligible. Fast-forward to today, and that age bracket has been stretched to embrace those up to 50.
Hitching a ride on this legislative wave, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) under the USDA umbrella, has charted a progressive hike in the ABAWD age cap. Come October 1, 2023, 52 becomes the new 50. Fast forward a year, and 54-year-olds will be sharing the ABAWD spotlight. But, here’s a twist: these age resets are not here to stay forever. They’ll be in effect until October 1, 2030. This isn’t the end of the story, though. The Act also offers clarity on who gets the exemption card and tweaks the rules on sharing information with John and Jane Doe, all the while giving the SNAP program mission statement a bit of a facelift.
Upcoming Adjustments in SNAP: Two Pivotal Alterations to Watch
When June 9 rolled in, the USDA dropped a statement that has everyone talking. The Food and Resource Action (FRA) has declared a full-court press on transparency. Thanks to Section 314, lovingly titled “Waiver Transparency,” the USDA now has its hands tied – it needs to spill the beans on state waiver requests and its green lights. So, if a state pitches a request to pause the ABAWDs time frame or gets a nod of approval, it’s no longer hush-hush. It hits the public domain within 30 days of the FRA’s decision.
But there’s more! Remember SNAP’s old tagline – the food stamps benefits? Well, its core message has undergone a transformation. The revised mantra underlines SNAP’s commitment to be the wind beneath the wings of low-income folks. It’s all about equipping them to land jobs and fatten those paychecks. And the endgame? Elevating their food-buying prowess, enriching their plates, and ensuring that everyone eligible is empowered to hop on board.
SNAP’s Updated Eligibility: Unraveling the Exemption Blueprint
As the pages of the calendar fly, the USDA has dropped a few more bombshells regarding the old “food stamps” regime, especially targeting the ABAWD crew. Starting October 1, state-operated SNAP desks will have their hands tied a tad tighter when dishing out ABAWD work exemptions. Once upon a time, states had the leeway to play the exemption card for 12% of their ABAWD folks. But, that’s history now. The bar has been lowered to 8%. And if you’re thinking of stockpiling those unused freebies for later? Think again! Anything over a year is off the table.
Yet, amidst this tightening ship, the USDA has thrown a lifeline to some. The homeless, our brave veterans, and those young guns between 18 to 24 who’ve stepped out of foster care now find themselves in the safe zone. They won’t be nudged by ABAWD work deadlines. Likewise, those wrestling with physical or mental hurdles, expectant moms, or those playing guardian to minors are in clear waters too.
What’s the USDA’s game plan here? Crystal-clear criteria to pinpoint those truly in need, ensuring that the right folks get that vital leg up. It’s a delicate dance between championing independence and standing up for the vulnerable, ensuring SNAP remains a beacon of hope.
What is the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). It is responsible for administering the country’s domestic nutrition assistance programs, which aim to address the issue of hunger within the United States.
The FNS administers its programs through its headquarters in Alexandria, VA, regional offices across the US, and field offices throughout the country. The agency’s budget is the largest within the USDA, and it is funded under the umbrella of the USDA through the annual Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The FNS provides services to one in five Americans. Some of these services include supplying commodities for prepared meals at feeding sites, food packages for home consumption, and disaster relief assistance. They also offer food assistance through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free meals and snacks, vouchers, and fresh, locally grown produce.
The FNS operates through a variety of programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and many others. These programs aim to provide food and nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families.
SNAP Benefits Payments Will Increase in October 2023
The program’s payments will raise for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility criteria annually, commencing on October 1, will be altered, according to the USDA.
These adjustments are predicated upon the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which denote the financial resources necessary to sustain a fundamental standard of living. In the year 2024, FNS elevated the maximum allotments and shelter caps for the majority of states and territories across the United States.
Maximum allotments saw an uptick for residents in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Alaska, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Conversely, beneficiaries of the SNAP program in Hawaii experienced a reduction of $35 in their maximum allotment. Here are the updated maximum allotments for a family of four participating in SNAP, as outlined on the USDA website:
- 48 states and D.C.: $973.
- Alaska: $1,248 to $1,937.
- Hawaii: $1,759.
- Guam: $1,434.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: $1,251.
Shelter cap values refer to the amount of money SNAP recipients can deduct for rent, repair costs, utilities and such. These limits are set as follows:
- 48 states and D.C.: $672.
- Alaska: $1,073.
- Hawaii: $905.
- Guam: $789.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: $529.
The resource limit for all states and territories remains the same, at $2,750. For families where at least one individual is aged 60 or older, or is disabled, the limit will remain at $4,250.