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Certain SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania now must meet work requirements AND report they are meeting this requirement to the PA Department of Human Services. If SNAP recipients do not meet this requirement, they can only receive three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period.
Your benefits will not change without notice from DHS. You will have the chance to update your case information before any changes are made.
Background
- SNAP applicants/recipients used to be able to verify reported shelter costs and utilities responsibility simply through their own statement.
- As long as there was nothing questionable about what was reported, shelter costs and utility responsibility were accepted as stated and there was no impact to the SNAP Payment Error Rate if documentation was not present.
New Policy
- As of February 9, 2026, SNAP applicants and recipients will need to provide verification of their shelter costs and utility responsibility for their current residence.
- If current SNAP recipients do not have verification(s) on file, they will need to provide a verification at their next renewal.
- There are several types of documents that households can provide to verify their shelter and utility expenses:
- Shelter: Rent/mortgage receipt, campground fee receipt, HUD statement, lease agreement, real estate tax receipt or statement, fire insurance bill or receipt, document with taxes and mortgage payment shown, statement from a person sharing the shelter costs
- Utilities: Utility bill, correspondence from utility company, cancelled check for utilities, statement or receipt for utilities from landlord
- Not providing shelter/utility cost verifications will not cause benefits to close or an application to be rejected.
- SNAP households that do not provide verification of shelter and utility costs will have their SNAP benefits evaluated without the shelter and utility deductions. This could result in a decrease in SNAP benefits.
Changes to Medicaid
The federal budget bill makes changes to Medicaid for certain Medicaid recipients. If you are eligible for Medicaid because of Medicaid expansion, starting in 2027, you will:
- Have to work, be in school, and/or participate community engagement like volunteering for at least 20 hours each week to meet a new Medicaid work requirement
- Need to renew your coverage every six months instead of once a year
Information about changes to Medicaid will be available in late 2026. Medicaid recipients who are affected by these new rules will get more information form PA DHS about their benefits and what they need to do to maintain their Medicaid coverage before the end of 2026.
Your benefits will not change without notice from DHS. You will have the opportunity to update your case information before any changes are made.
DHS will help you prepare for changes to your benefits as they come. Be on the lookout for more information from DHS about your benefits
Information for Noncitizens
Federal law changed how certain noncitizens can receive benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. Eligibility changes for SNAP started in 2025, and changes for Medicaid will start later in 2026. Your benefits will not change without notice from DHS.
If you are not a citizen of the United States but you previously were able to receive assistance, learn how this law may affect your benefits.
Preparing for Benefits Changes
You can help be ready for any changes by keeping your address and other contact information up-to-date with DHS and the US Postal Service.
- Update your address with DHS: Log in to COMPASS at dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or the myCOMPASS PA mobile app to check and update your address and other contact information
- Report address changes to the US Postal Service: Visit USPS.com/move to update your address.
- Sign up for texts and emails from DHS: Visit dhs.pa.gov/text to sign up for texts and emails to get even faster notifications about your benefits.
SNAP Toolkit
Our communications toolkit offers materials including: flyers, social media graphics, sample messages, and more; to help you inform others about important changes for SNAP recipients.
Human Services Helpers
Join the Human Services Helpers Stubstack to get updates, resources, newsletters, and more that can help Pennsylvanians access services and supports, navigate change, and live healthier lives.