TAMPA, Fla. - Starting this week, SNAP – the federal program that helps low-income families buy groceries – is enforcing new eligibility requirements.

Adults up to 64 years old must work or participate in job training 20 hours per week to qualify, and parents are only exempt if their children are under seven years old, down from 18. Federal officials said these changes will save billions of dollars, while states like Florida will now cover 75% of administrative costs, up from 50%.

Local perspective:

Local food assistance programs, like Feeding Tampa Bay, warn the stricter rules will increase demand on non-profits already serving thousands of people.

"We’re already looking after a million folks every day who need our support… this will add several hundred thousand new folks to our car

See Full Page