New work rules could strip benefits from 36,000 Wisconsinites

New federal rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expanding SNAP work requirements in Wisconsin, potentially stripping food assistance from 36,000 residents. The changes broaden eligibility to adults ages 18-64 and parents of children over 14, mandating at least 80 hours per month of work, job training, or volunteering.[1][2][7] States like Wisconsin are notifying affected recipients through routine recertification letters, with enforcement rolling out on a case-by-case basis.[1][7]

Previously, these requirements applied only to able-bodied adults ages 18-54 without young dependents, but the law signed in July 2025 tightens exemptions, ending automatic waivers for veterans and homeless individuals.[1][3][7] Recipients can comply by working 20 hours weekly, joining programs like FoodShare Employment and Training or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act initiatives, or opting for workfare—volunteering fewer hours based on benefit value divided by the state's $7.25 minimum wage.[1][2] Those failing to meet the rules face just three months of benefits in a three-year period, from January 2025 to December 2027.[2]

For Milwaukee families, this hits hard amid rising grocery costs and a tight job market, risking hunger for working poor, older adults, and parents unable to find flexible hours.[1][7] Food pantries like those run by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin brace for surges in demand as paperwork confusion leads to benefit losses.[7]

Wisconsin DHS will continue mailing notices during renewals, urging recipients to track hours and claim exemptions for health issues or caregiving. Local agencies offer "good cause" extensions for emergencies like illness.[2]