If you use SNAP benefits to buy food in the United States, it is important that you pay attention: some states have already begun to apply new requirements that will change which products you can buy and what you must do to continue receiving your assistance.
With states like Arkansas, Indiana, and Idaho leading the change, the new rules promise to shake the foundations of one of the largest assistance programs in the country. Will it affect you? Here we tell you everything you need to know so you do not get left out.
What products will you no longer be able to buy with SNAP?
The first big change comes with some foods that have caused controversy. Arkansas, Indiana, and Idaho have requested permission from the federal government to block the purchase of certain products using SNAP checks considering them unhealthy, such as, for example:
- Sugary sodas.
- Candy and sweets.
- “Light” or zero-calorie drinks that, even without sugar, are considered unhealthy.
The idea behind this measure is to promote healthier eating and reduce diseases associated with sugar consumption, such as diabetes or obesity, and certainly, the obesity rate in our country skyrockets year after year, and some states have said enough, but is it a measure thought for health, or thought from the most obsolete classism?
Double Benefits Alert: Social Security Explains Who Can Receive SSI and SNAP Together
What is the point of prohibiting SNAP users from enjoying a cold soda or a sweet when they feel like it if those foods will still be around the supermarket? For many, it is, in fact, a measure taken from classism, because they want to limit the consumption of certain foods only to a sector of the population, not to the entire population, and therefore, they are restricting the freedom enjoyed by SNAP credits. Also, with this separation, it almost seems like we are putting a bracelet on the people who access the check, blaming them for their own situation or practically telling them that they do not know how to eat.
Products that could change on the allowed list
The most curious thing is that the same states seeking to restrict sweets also propose allowing the purchase of prepared foods, like supermarket rotisserie chickens (the ones that are ready to eat), which were previously prohibited. That is, they want to completely reorganize the list of products, seeking to encourage more nutritious and practical meals for those who receive SNAP.
New work requirements to maintain benefits
But the changes do not end with the shopping list. There are also new work obligations for those who receive SNAP, especially in states like Indiana. Now, if you want to maintain your benefits, you must:
- Show that you are actively looking for work (it is not enough just to say it).
- Enroll in training programs and meet attendance schedules.
- Work at least 80 hours a month if you are between 18 and 54 years old and do not care for children or dependents.
If you do not meet these requirements, you could lose access to your SNAP check.
Is this change new?
Not entirely. At the federal level, there was already a similar rule, but now some states are applying it more strictly and with fewer exceptions.
What problems could this new regulation generate?
Applying these restrictions will not be easy, defining which products are included or excluded from the SNAP lists can cause confusion for both consumers and supermarkets.
For example:
- A sugar-free soda could be prohibited in one state and allowed in another.
- Some foods could be ambiguous and cause doubts at the time of payment.
Also, manufacturers have already started to protest, arguing that these types of rules are discriminatory and unfairly affect certain products. And indeed, it is much easier to promote healthy habits instead of prohibiting the purchase of some products, especially because, as we said before, it seems that action is being taken from classism. What if instead of banning ultra-processed foods, discounts were offered for buying fruits and vegetables? The story would change completely
These SNAP changes are quite important for those who survive thanks to it, and now, with the food restriction and the new work requirements, millions of beneficiaries will have to adapt to avoid losing their help.
