This story was originally published at Capital B Atlanta. Public health, explained: Sign up to receive Healthbeat’s free Atlanta newsletter here.
Georgia residents who receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could begin seeing significant changes as soon as this fall, and local advocates warn SNAP recipients should prepare for these updates as soon as possible.
Among the most significant changes are expanded work requirements for adults receiving benefits, and restrictions on immigrant eligibility. Black Georgia residents, who are overrepresented on the SNAP rolls, could be hit the hardest by the incoming changes to the program.
“I am concerned about work requirements disproportionately affecting Black SNAP clients. The same problems that contribute to higher poverty rates and SNAP participation are the same factors that will make it hard for Black SNAP clients to meet a work requirement,” Ife Finch Floyd, director of economic justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, told Capital B Atlanta.
In 2020, Black people made up 33% of the state’s population and more than half of SNAP participants, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. Additionally, Black residents are facing food insecurity at higher rates compared to white residents.
“There is a larger percentage Black SNAP recipients than the share of Black people in the state populations, and it’s for all the reasons that Black people tend to have higher poverty rates,” Floyd said, pointing to historical red lining, racial discrimination in the labor market, barriers to education and training that lead to better paying jobs, and high rates of people with a criminal conviction, which can limit job prospects.
In addition, Floyd also said Black residents living in rural parts of the state face additional barriers, such as lack of public transit and limited slots for job training.
To prepare for the upcoming SNAP changes, recipients and community members are encouraged to take action now. Start by contacting a local SNAP outreach partner or the Georgia Department of Human Services for help navigating paperwork and ensuring compliance with the new rules.
Advocates also suggest closely monitoring any mail from Georgia DHS, as it may contain important updates about work requirements or changes to eligibility. It’s also a good idea to begin gathering key documentation, including income records, proof of work or volunteer hours, and any caregiving responsibilities.
What’s changing with SNAP?
SNAP program updates, stemming from the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that President Donald Trump signed into law in July, introduces sweeping reforms nationwide and cuts around $186 billion from the program.
Under the new federal rules, more SNAP recipients will be required to meet work requirements. Previously, able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 54 without dependents had to work or do community service for at least 20 hours per week to maintain benefits. The new law raises that age limit to 64 and also removes previous exemptions for certain groups, including veterans, unhoused individuals, and young adults who’ve aged out of foster care.
Additionally, parents or guardians of children ages 14 to 17 will now be expected to meet these work requirements, which is a major shift from earlier rules that exempted parents with dependents.
Another provision of the law eliminates SNAP eligibility for certain immigrants who previously qualified, including those granted refugee or asylum status and others with humanitarian protections.
With respect to the funding cuts to SNAP, Floyd argues that the cuts could force states to make tough decisions on how to adjust their budgets to fill in the gaps, which could potentially cause states to reduce their SNAP benefits altogether.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, based on a July 11 memo sent out to state departments by Gov. Brian Kemp’s budget office, agencies are being instructed to deduct any money they’ve lost in federal funding from their budgets rather than ask the state to make up the difference.
“While the governor remains committed to meeting the needs of our growing state, conservative fiscal management means prioritizing spending to live within our means and keeping more tax dollars in the pocketbooks of our citizens,” wrote state budget office director Richard Dunn.
Where to go for SNAP assistance?
The law was passed months ago, but Georgia has not yet begun implementing these expanded requirements, largely because it has been waiting on guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That guidance was issued last week, and even then, advocates say, it lacked clarity.
“It is confusing,” Floyd said. “The law was written so quickly, and the changes are so dramatic that it’s going to take time to fully process what it all means and how best to implement it.”
A DHS spokesperson told Capital B Atlanta in an email that the state is assessing the changes to the SNAP program and is expecting to receive “additional, detailed guidance” from USDA toward the end of the month.
As of Tuesday, Floyd said she was unaware of any SNAP recipients in Georgia who have received formal notices about the new work requirements.
Several organizations around the state are available to help individuals navigate the SNAP system, including:
- Atlanta Community Food Bank
- Latin American Association
- Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia
- Georgia Legal Aid
- Goodwill of North Georgia
Floyd and staff at the Atlanta Community Food Bank say it’s critical that SNAP recipients, especially those who may now fall under new requirements, get help in understanding what’s changing.
“We don’t want people to lose benefits simply because they didn’t know the rules had changed or didn’t get the right paperwork in,” said Kyle Waide, the food bank’s CEO.
Alyssa Johnson is Capital B Atlanta’s enterprise reporter.
