LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — New work requirements for SNAP benefits take effect Sunday, and Three Square President and CEO Beth Marino said her organization is preparing to help feed more people than ever before.
As many as 46,000 Nevadans are expected to lose their benefits under the new rules, which require able-bodied SNAP recipients without children to work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week to continue receiving assistance.
Exemptions removed, age threshold raised
The changes also eliminate exemptions previously granted to veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals aging out of foster care. The age threshold for the work requirement has also been raised — recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 are now subject to the rule, up from the previous range of 18 to 54.
“So there are some people that had previously been exempt from that work requirement. There were veterans, people who are unhoused or homeless, people aging out of foster care. Now all of those individuals will lose their exemption. They will no longer be eligible under the current kind of structure,” Marino said.
Finding work may not be realistic for all, Marino says
Marino said the requirement may not be achievable for everyone affected.
“But one of the challenges here in Nevada is that people could be looking for work and they may be struggling to actually find a job. We also expanded the age of people that have to search for work. It used to be people 18 to 54. Now it’s people 18 to 64. So we’re dealing with people in their 60s that now have to go out and look for work. And they may have a number of limitations that would make that difficult for them,” she said.
Three Square bracing for expanded need
Marino said Three Square expects the number of people seeking food assistance to continue to rise and is looking for new ways to distribute food throughout the community.
“So the bottom line, what this means, is that we’ve got at least 45,000 people and probably more in the coming months that won’t know how to feed themselves and feed their families. Here at Three Square, what that means is that we’ve got to find more ways to get food out into the community,” Marino said.
She added that further changes to the SNAP benefit structure are on the horizon.
“But what we know is that over the next couple of years, more changes are going to be phased in, which means Nevada is going to have to find millions and millions of dollars to fill the gap that the federal government will no longer provide,” Marino said.
The SNAP benefit structure was changed as part of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. Three Square has called on its partners and the public for continued support.
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