Audio Transcript: There are now additional work requirements to qualify for SNAP
David Horn: The trip to the grocery store could get more expensive for Onondaga County. New SNAP work rules in New York now require at least 80 hours of qualifying activities per month. SNAP user Megan Stallone says the new plan makes it more difficult to feed her family of five.
Megan Stallone: As long as you’re out there trying to feed your family on your own, I don’t think it should be as stringent as it is.
Horn: According to New York State, if you don’t meet the monthly requirement for any three months from Mar 1. to Sept. 30, you are at risk of losing your SNAP benefits. Price Rite supermarket manager Frank said these changes in SNAP working requirements affect more than just the families getting groceries.
Frank: It’s effecting every grocery store that does do business with SNAP. Mostly all the low income areas.
Horn: So far more than 5,000 Onondaga County residents have lost their SNAP benefits. David Horn, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y (NCC News) — The trip to the grocery store may get more expensive for Onondaga County.
Federal food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, are harder to come by.
According to New York State, the new SNAP work rules require at least 80 hours of qualifying activities per month.
Public opinion is mixed on the additional working requirements.
Manny Duvergal is a soon-to-be uncle using his SNAP benefits to support his sister and stock their home.
“I feel like they should be providing it for the families that actually need and are using it,” Duvergal said.
Other SNAP users like Megan Stallone say the new plan makes it more difficult to feed her family of five.
“As long as you are out there trying to feed your family on your own,” Stallone said. “I don’t think it should be as stringent as it is.”
According to New York State, if you do not meet the monthly requirement for any three months from March 1st to September 13th, you are at risk of losing your SNAP benefits.
According to a Price Rite supermarket manager, these changes in SNAP working requirements affect every grocery store that does do business with SNAP.
So far, more than 5,000 Onondaga County residents have lost their SNAP benefits.