SNAP Applications

• As of November 1, 2025, SNAP recipients must now report at least 20 hours of work, education, training, or volunteering per week (80 hours per month) if they:
  • Are 18-64 years old,
  • Do not have a dependent child under 14, and
  • Are physically and mentally able to work.
• Being a veteran or a current or former foster youth age 18-24 is no longer an exemption.
• SNAP recipients who do not meet new requirements can only receive three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period.

• The best way to protect your SNAP is to meet an exemption from work requirements. People who meet an exemption from work requirements will be able to keep their SNAP until their next annual renewal.
• You may be exempt from the new SNAP work and reporting requirements if you meet an exemption such as:
  • Living in a SNAP household with a child under 14
  • Unable to work because of a physical or mental health condition, whether or not you qualify for disability benefits
  • Pregnant
  • Needed in the home to care for an ill or disabled person
  • Receiving (or applied for) Unemployment Compensation (UC)
  • Unable to work because of domestic violence
  • Participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program
  • Homeless, living in a shelter or halfway house, or staying with family or friends for 90 days or less
  • Temporarily unemployed and expect to return to work in the next 60 days
• Being a veteran or a current or former foster youth age 18-24 is no longer an exemption.
• In some cases, we may need you to provide proof of your exemption. Your caseworker will let you know if you must do so.
• If you believe you are unable to work due to a disability, fill out a Medical Exemption Form and contact your caseworker.

• If you do not meet at least one exemption, you can comply by working, enrolling in a job training program, or volunteering to keep your SNAP AND you report these activities. Options include:
  • Work 20 hours per week
  • Participate in an employment and training program 20 hours per week
    • This must be an officially registered E&T program. Searching for a job, outside of these programs, is not enough to comply
  • Volunteer or do community service
    • The nonprofit you volunteer at will have to complete Form PA 1938 for you.
    • You will have to complete an Employment Development Plan at the County Assistance Office and be assigned to a program that will monitor your hours.
    • The number of hours you must volunteer to keep your SNAP is the amount of your SNAP grant divided by $7.25 (the minimum wage). For example, a single person getting $292 in SNAP a month must volunteer 41 hours a month to keep their SNAP.
    • Meeting SNAP Work and Engagement Requirements by Volunteering
  • If your paid work is less than 20 hours/week, you can combine your work with unpaid work or an employment or training program to get up to 20 hours a week.

• Your caseworker will work with you to verify that you are still meeting your required hours every six months when you renew your SNAP benefits.
• If your hours drop below the required hours at any time, you must report this to the County Assistance Office within 10 days.
• If you need to report a change in work, education and training program, or volunteer hours, you can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (in Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226).
• Submit your information using COMPASS
• How to use Verify My Income in COMPASS

• Your caseworker will work with you to verify that you are still meeting your required hours every six months when you renew your SNAP benefits.
• If your hours drop below the required hours at any time, you must report this to the County Assistance Office within 10 days.

• If your hours drop below 80 hours/month you will start using your 3 months of SNAP. The clock will stop running if you show you are back up to working 20 hours/week or become exempt.
• If your paid work is less than 20 hours/week, you can combine your work with unpaid work or an employment or training program to get up to 20 hours a week.
• If you miss some hours for a reason outside your control (such as a medical emergency), you can request “good cause” and still be considered in compliance.
• If your hours at a work, education/training, or volunteer opportunity change, you must report this change to your County Assistance Office by the 10th day of the month following the month of change. Please also report when they are back up to the 20 hours/week requirement.
• To report these changes, you can call your local county assistance office or the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 (in Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226).

• Pennsylvanians should also keep their address up-to-date with DHS by calling the Customer Service Center or updating their address through COMPASS, and with the United States Postal Service so they don’t miss any important mailings about their benefits.
• Learn how to protect your benefits from SNAP skimming theft and other scams.
• Lock you EBT card using the ConnectEBT website when your card is not in use.

PA DHS – SNAP

COMPASS – Apply, renew, submit documentation, or find out if you’re eligible here.

PA DHS – SNAP Work Requirements

CLS – SNAP (Food Stamps)