October 14, 2025
by Alex Lloyd Gross
State Senator Art Haywood (d) paid a visit to Bensalem to discuss with the community the new requirements to get food stamps, now referred to as SNAP. In prior years people that were un employed or under employed could simply apply and receive benefits.
Effective September 1, 2025, applicants under 64 years of age must work at least 80 hours per month to qualify. That is 20 hours per week. If you are short, then you must make up that time by being in school, attending job training or volunteering . There are exceptions, such as if you are disabled or pregnant. If you are needed to the home to care for a disabled person or unable to work due to domestic violence.
While Haywood’s district is in Germantown and parts of Abington, being without food is everywhere. “A good percentage of food in grocery stores is purchased through SNAP benefits. “If people lose those benefits, they are unable to shop for food and the store has to lay off workers”, Haywood said.
Those people that do not qualify would lose their benefits. That puts a strain on food banks that are already pushing out thousands of meals per year. If people cannot get food legally, they may steal it.
This seminar was put on at the Greater Works Food Pantry (Love Fellowship Tabernacle) 5918 Hulmeville Road. It was there that people could get their questions answered about program qualifications. People applying for SNAP benefits will have their income and work verified by a case worker. Effective November 1 2025 being a veteran homeless or formerly living in a foster home will no longer be an excemption.