The SNAP Work Requirement Expansion

In 2025, Congress expanded work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), changing how millions of people access food aid. The law now requires adults up to age 64 to work at least 20 hours a week, or be in training, to qualify. Previously, the cutoff was 49. It also narrows exemptions for parents and veterans.

Supporters argue that the new requirements encourage self-sufficiency and reduce dependency on government programs. They say that by making work or training a condition for benefits, more people will re-enter the workforce and strengthen the economy. For them, SNAP is meant to be a safety net, not a long-term solution.

Critics strongly disagree, warning that the policy could harm vulnerable groups. People in areas with limited jobs, caregivers, and older adults may lose benefits even though they face real barriers to employment. Hunger advocates argue that the new rules will push families into food insecurity rather than helping them get ahead.

The debate also highlights regional differences. Rural areas, where jobs are often seasonal or scarce, could be hit especially hard. States now share the burden of enforcing the rules, which adds administrative costs and raises the risk of mistakes.

This change shows how food assistance is about more than nutrition—it’s about the role of government in supporting people through tough times. Whether it reduces dependency or creates new hardships will shape how SNAP is viewed in the future.