In a highly debated move, President Biden signed a debt ceiling deal over the weekend to avert the country’s default. The deal includes cuts to federal spending, notably introducing new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which has sparked concerns among anti-hunger advocates.

As a result of concessions made with Republican legislators, the age at which SNAP beneficiaries must provide proof of work has been increased to 54 years old. Anti-hunger advocates argue that this change will be detrimental to older adults, leading to a loss of eligibility. The deal does include exemptions for certain groups, such as veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aged 18 to 24 who were previously in foster care. Ellen Vollinger, SNAP director for the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), believes the provisions related to SNAP were unnecessary in the debt ceiling agreement, and the resulting reduction in SNAP benefits will have severe consequences for individuals.

This debt ceiling deal is the latest development affecting SNAP, which was already impacted earlier this year when Congress ended pandemic-era emergency allotments to the program, affecting over 41 million Americans.

New work requirements expand the eligibility criteria for SNAP, now encompassing adults aged 18 to 54. The change will be implemented gradually, with adults aged 50-52 required to abide by the new rules starting in October 2023. By the fall of 2024, adults up to the age of 54 will have to meet the new standards. Advocates argue that this places an unfair burden on older adults who may have significant work experience but are facing challenges in their employment situation.

Estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities suggest that 750,000 adults aged 50 to 54 will lose food assistance due to these changes. Republicans supported these alterations believing it would encourage people to seek employment rather than relying on government aid. In contrast, a study by the American Economic Association indicates that SNAP‘s work-reporting requirement does not increase economic self-sufficiency and actually results in a 53% decrease in overall program participation.

Anti-hunger advocates warn the effectiveness of the exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults formerly in foster care will depend on how the changes are implemented and communicated to potential beneficiaries. Vollinger emphasizes that the assessment by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which projected additional costs of $2.1 million for the debt ceiling SNAP changes, does not account for the realities of SNAP‘s rigorous application process and enrollment limitations.

The deal also reduces states’ ability to waive work requirements on a case-by-case basis. Previously, states could provide hardship exemptions for 15% of the eligible pool, with the option to carry over unused exemptions to the following year. The new changes reduce states’ hardship exemptions to 8% and eliminate the ability to carry over unused exemptions, limiting states’ flexibility in responding to individual circumstances.

Critics argue these modifications to SNAP will hinder states’ ability to assist vulnerable populations, such as survivors of domestic abuse or individuals facing temporary barriers to employment. Vollinger points out that the reduced exemptions and limitations imposed by the deal could restrict states’ capacity to address future challenges.

The impact of these changes on SNAP beneficiaries and states will ultimately depend on the implementation process and how effectively the exemptions and new requirements are managed.