SAN ANTONIO – February 1 saw multiple states across the country, officially enact the revised SNAP work rule eligibility requirements.
The number of required hours of work remains the same, but what is different is who must now abide by the work rule.
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Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law last year.
Initially, it was reported that states would have to begin applying changes to SNAP including the expansion of groups that must abide by the work rule requirement by November 1, but many states just did on Sunday.
But the changes did go into effect in Texas on November 1, 2025, which was around the time when the temporary pause in SNAP benefits began.
SNAP provides more than 3 million Texans with financial assistance to buy groceries.
Recipients required to work, must work at least 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month, and document their hours to continue receiving benefits.
They must log their work hours and submit them to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which will verify the hours.
According to HHS guidelines sent to KSAT, qualifying work includes a combination of a paying jobs, unpaid volunteer hours, or receiving goods or services instead of payment.
The agency will also accept hours for participation in a work program, such as SNAP Employment and Training, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, or a Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) work program.
The HHS guidelines state that the agency suggested that SNAP clients participating in a TWC work program could have TWC send their program hours to Health and Human Services.
A major part of the revised work rule eligibility requirement is the expanded age range of SNAP recipients who fulfill the work rule.
The age at which older recipients no longer have to document their work hours was raised from 54 to 64, which means it is mandatory for those clients to work and document at least 80 hours a month.
In addition, some groups, such as those listed below, are reportedly no longer exempt from the work rule:
- Veterans
- Homeless individuals
- Parents whose kids are all between the ages of 14 and 17
- Young adults aging out of the foster care system
These groups must also log the required number of hours to submit to HHS.
Exempt groups still include pregnant women, recipients considered mentally or physically disabled, children under 17, adults 65 or older, and a few other categories.
Texas Health and Human Services officials said since implementing the changes on November 1, recipients applying and reapplying for benefits have been told about the changes and expectations to keep receiving benefits.
They say clients must comply with the work rule requirement that applies to them upon approval of benefits.
Following recent winter weather in Texas, the agency extended the deadline for SNAP recipients to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed. The new deadline is Feb. 23.
Recipients must visit a local HHS office to complete the paperwork for the request.
According to a statement released from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, funds should be added to the Lone Star cards within two days of receiving the request.
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