美国食品救济金恢复发放 领取条件大幅收紧

Core Points - The U.S. government shutdown has ended, allowing states to resume the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but new regulations from the "Big and Beautiful" tax and spending bill are tightening the SNAP system [1][2] - The Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 300,000 people nationwide will lose their SNAP eligibility due to these new rules [1] - This reform represents the most significant tightening of SNAP in a decade, requiring all adults under 65 without serious health limitations to prove they work, receive education, or participate in training for at least 80 hours per month, or they can only receive benefits for a maximum of three months [1][2] Summary by Sections SNAP Eligibility Changes - The new regulations require most previously exempt groups, including veterans, the homeless, and parents of children under 18, to meet work requirements, with the only new exempt group being legally defined Native Americans and tribal members [1] - The changes have been in effect since July 4, but states were given a 120-day adjustment period that ended on November 1 [1] Management and Funding Implications - States must manage SNAP more accurately or risk losing federal funding; starting in fiscal year 2028, states with an error rate exceeding 6% will face funding cuts [2] - From November 1, all errors will be counted, including those made during the government shutdown when states issued emergency benefits, which could complicate efforts to meet the error rate target [2] - Currently, only eight states are expected to meet the new requirements, while the national average error rate was nearly 11% last year [2] Program Scope and Financial Impact - SNAP is a crucial part of the U.S. social safety net, covering 42 million people, or about one-eighth of the U.S. population, with most participants living below the poverty line [2] - The program spends over $8 billion monthly, and for the first time in its 60-year history, SNAP benefits were halted during the recent government shutdown [2]