USDA Stresses Work Requirement to SNAP Agencies
It sounds something akin to an imperative from Yoda of Star Wars fame, but the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stressing to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit recipients, “if you can work, do.”
The agency last week issued a memorandum to state SNAP agencies making clear the work requirement under the program. “Since my confirmation, I have reiterated the states are our partners, and this includes ensuring our nutrition programs are tied to putting Americans back to work,” said Secretary Brooke Rollins. “It is important to remind states that Congress conditioned the receipt of benefits by able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) on satisfying work requirements. Many states have abused the system by requesting work requirement waivers. Today marks the start of a new era for SNAP — prioritizing work, career and technical education, and volunteering rather than idleness, excess spending and misapplication of the law.”
The memorandum, sent from John Walk, acting deputy undersecretary of food, nutrition and consumer services at USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, cited the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which amended the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to include in the SNAP purpose statement that it “assist low-income adults in obtaining employment and increasing their earnings.” Walk noted that this act “reaffirmed our efforts to reduce dependency on public assistance programs and increase self-sufficiency.”
The memo reiterates the agency’s authority to grant state SNAP agencies requests to waive the time limit on receiving SNAP benefits by ABAWDs who do not meet statutory work requirements. The agency may grant an ABAWD waiver request when it determines that the area has an unemployment rate of over 10% or does not have sufficient jobs to provide employment for ABAWDs.
“States should be mindful of this important purpose and ensure the scope of their requests apply only to those who truly need it so that those who can work, do,” Walk explains in the memo. “As we partner to lift Americans out of dependency and into hopeful futures, FNS affirms its commitment to consult with state agencies during the waiver review process and provide technical assistance to ensure ABAWD waivers are only utilized when consistent with the act and protect the integrity of SNAP to the greatest extent.”
Although the memo does not have the force and effect of law, it’s pretty clear what the agency expects state SNAP agencies to do. Now, for the hard part, finding jobs for all of these individuals.
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