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Jobs and Opportunities for SNAP Act
2/1/2024, 12:00 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1550
If passed, the Jobs and Opportunities for SNAP Act would require states to develop and implement programs that help SNAP recipients gain the skills and experience needed to secure stable employment. These programs would focus on job training, education, and support services to help individuals transition from reliance on SNAP benefits to self-sufficiency.
Additionally, the bill aims to increase coordination between federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that SNAP recipients have access to a wide range of employment opportunities. This includes partnerships with employers, community organizations, and educational institutions to create pathways to sustainable employment for program participants. Overall, the Jobs and Opportunities for SNAP Act seeks to empower individuals receiving SNAP benefits to achieve economic independence and reduce their reliance on government assistance. Proponents of the bill argue that by investing in job training and employment opportunities, the government can help lift individuals out of poverty and improve their overall quality of life.
Congressional Summary of HR 1550
Jobs and Opportunities for SNAP Act
This bill expands applicability of the work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). (SNAP recipients who are ABAWDs have work-related requirements in addition to the general SNAP work registration and employment and training requirements.)
Specifically, this bill applies the work requirements for ABAWDs to adults who are not over 65 years old, whereas these requirements currently apply to adults who are not over 50 years old.
Further, the ABAWD exemption for a parent or household member with responsibility for a dependent child is restricted to a dependent child under the age of seven. Current law does not include an age for the child.
The bill repeals COVID-19 public health emergency waivers issued for ABAWD work requirements.
The bill also repeals an ABAWD waiver program that allows state exemptions based on an area (1) having an unemployment rate of over 10%, or (2) not having a sufficient number of jobs.
Under current law, a state agency may exempt up to 12% of SNAP recipients from the ABAWD work requirements for each fiscal year; unused exemptions may be carried over and used in a subsequent fiscal year. The bill reduces the percentage of exemptions a state agency may provide to up to 3% of SNAP recipients, and unused exemptions may not be carried over.
