Work Requirements Undercut Second Chances through SNAP

*Names have been changed to safeguard the identities of those who trusted us with their stories. 

For people facing tough times, food assistance can be the bridge between hardship and recovery. It helps stabilize families, cover gaps between jobs, and gives people a fair shot at rebuilding; however, overly restrictive policies that have recently been put in place will act as roadblocks to this recovery. John from Spring Hill, TN, recently released after serving eight years in federal prison, says that SNAP is the only thing keeping him alive as he works to start over: “I've just been recently released from paying my debt to society and it's rough starting all over again in a new city,” he told TJC.  

Certain people are required to work 20 hours per week to keep SNAP benefits beyond three months. Most people who are required to meet work requirements do meet them, but for many people who can’t find work, have trouble getting enough hours, or are unable to prove that they are working, this becomes a barrier. Strict work requirements do not help people find work. Instead, they kick people off the SNAP program, taking food away from people who are trying desperately to find employment.  

Living with his parents in a small town outside Nashville, John is navigating the steep challenges of reentry from prison that includes isolation in a new city, long distances to job opportunities, and ongoing health issues from a previous injury that limits his ability to work. Additionally, he faces administrative barriers. He is required to pay $600 to reinstate his driver’s license, which is necessary to drive the 40-minute commute to work in Nashville. There are very few opportunities for work in his small rural town, and there is no public transit.  

His injury qualifies him for disability benefits, but ongoing administrative backlogs at the Social Security Administration (SSA) have delayed his approval. Individuals with disabilities are typically exempt from work requirements and can access SNAP more easily, but the SSA delays can prevent this from happening. In the meantime, he scrapes together income from odd jobs, such as being an extra in movies and selling his plasma. His parents help, but their household— like many— is stretched thin. As he awaits approval for SSDI, he faces barriers because of work requirements for SNAP. The SNAP cuts that were signed into law by the president will make work requirements stricter and prevent even more eligible people from accessing the program.

In a system already full of barriers, SNAP is his only reliable support. It ensures he can eat, even as he fights to regain stability: “SNAP is helping people survive,” he says.