{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"New SNAP Work Requirements Take Effect March 1 in New York: Who’s Affected and How to Claim Exemptions","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1002,"description":"New federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect across New York on March 1, and anti-hunger advocates are warning that hundreds of thousands of residents could be at risk of losing food assistance — not necessarily because they’re ineligible, but because they may not know they qualify for an exemption.The updated rules require many adults without young children to document at least 80 hours per month of work or approved activity to continue receiving benefits long-term.“SNAP has actually had work requirements for quite some time,” said Krista Hesdorfer, Director of Public Affairs at Hunger Solutions New York. “But they have been waived in most parts of New York.”That waiver has now ended under a federal budget bill passed last summer, triggering stricter enforcement statewide.What’s Changing?The rules, often referred to as the “able-bodied adults without dependents” requirements, limit certain adults to just three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period unless they:* Work at least 80 hours per month* Participate in approved job training or community service* Or document that they qualify for an exemption“The federal budget bill effectively ends New York’s waiver of those rules,” Hesdorfer said. “So now people across the state who have been held harmless will now be affected by the time limit.”The legislation also expands who must comply. Advocates estimate that an additional 200,000 New Yorkers who were previously exempt will now be subject to the requirements.Who Must Meet the 80-Hour Rule?Under the new policy, individuals must comply if they:* Are between ages 18 and 64* Do not have children under 14 in their household* Are deemed able to workOne significant change affects older adults.“The groups who are newly subject to the work rules include older adults age 55 to 64 who were previously exempt,” Hesdorfer said. “We’re really concerned about the impacts on that age group, knowing that many people...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}