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    SNAP cuts incoming and could affect you. See if you qualify for an exemption.

    By Rasheed Z. Ajamu

    | News

    Tags: | | | | | | | | | |

    A hand-cart full of groceries. (Photo: Canva)

    September 1 will mark changes for many Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries, following the passage of “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB).

    The bill is projected to bring about $295 billion in cuts to U.S. food assistance programs. It’s credited as the deepest SNAP cut in history, leaving millions of Americans in food and financial limbo, including the 144,000 Pennsylvania families affected.

    In Philadelphia, one in three families is threatened. The Germantown Info Hub had previously reported that more than half of Germantown residents are already cost-burdened, spending 34-39% of their income on rent and utilities already.

    Food prices, which rose three percent in the past year, only exacerbate this problem.

    One of the many effects of the bill is requiring most adults to work at least 20 hours a week to keep their benefits. The consequence of not doing so is being limited to three months of SNAP in three years.

    But, there are exemptions for folks who qualify. This includes people who:

    • Have a mental or physical health condition that limits your ability to work
    • Earn at least $217.50 a week before taxes
    • Receive some kind of disability benefit like SSD or SSI
    • Have children under the age of 14
    • Are over 65 or under age 18
    • Are enrolled in school or training at least half of the time
    • Are pregnant
    • Doing community service for at least 20 hours a week
    • Going back to work within 60 days
    • Care for a sick family member
    • Receive Unemployment Compensation
    • Are unhoused
    • In a drug or mental health treatment

    If your County Assistance Office doesn’t know any of the following things about you, you should let them know as soon as possible.

    Folks with a health condition should get this medical exemption form, provided by the Department of Human Services, signed by their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Community Legal Services suggests that even if you work now, you should still get it signed to protect your benefits in case your hours change.

    Once the requirements start, folks can submit the signed form to their county assistance office to ensure their SNAP benefits remain intact.

    Inability to get the form signed promptly could result in losing your SNAP benefits as early as the end of November. Visit the CLS website for the most up-to-date information on the matter.

    Alongside food assistance program cuts, health-care spending is set to be cut by about $1.1 trillion, and 11.8 million Americans are set to lose health insurance by 2034. 

    Additionally, 310,000 PA residents face Medicaid reductions and stricter work requirements under OBBB.