# Food Access and Stability Act of 2023

This bill protects food assistance benefits for some of the most vulnerable people in America. Specifically, it ensures that homeless individuals, veterans, and people who aged out of foster care can continue receiving food stamps (officially called SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) without having to meet work requirements.

Here's what's happening: A previous law passed in 2023 included rules that would have eventually required these three groups to work or participate in job training programs in order to keep their food assistance. However, that requirement was set to expire—or "sunset"—on a specific date. This new bill makes that expiration permanent, meaning the work requirement exemption will never kick in. In practical terms, homeless people, veterans, and former foster youth won't have to prove they're working or looking for work to keep receiving food stamps, even after that sunset date passes.

Why does this matter? These groups face unique barriers to employment. Homeless individuals may lack stable addresses or access to transportation. Veterans might be dealing with service-related disabilities or mental health challenges. Young people leaving foster care often have no family support system and are starting from scratch. Requiring them to work in order to eat could push vulnerable people into worse situations. This bill says that getting food assistance shouldn't depend on employment status for these specific populations, recognizing that their circumstances are different from the general population.

Food Access and Stability Act of 2023

Caraveo, Yadira

Food Access and Stability Act of 2023This bill repeals the sunset of the work requirements exemption for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). (SNAP recipients who are ABAWDs have work-related requirements in addition to the general SNAP work registration and employment and training requirements.)Under current law, homeless individuals, veterans, and certain foster care individuals (those who are 24 years old or younger and were in foster care on the date of attaining 18 years of age or a higher age) are exempt from the work requirements for ABAWDs. This exemption sunsets at the end of FY2030. The bill repeals the sunset of these exemptions, making them permanent.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;