Bill That Could Decrease SNAP Eligibility Clears Senate

The state Senate passed Senate Bill 249 which would expand training and employment requirements to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The bill also pushes back the age at which West Virginians would no longer have to participate in those work requirements for SNAP eligibility 

The lead sponsor of the bill, Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, urged passage of the bill. 

“It specifically requires the Department of Human Services to assign all able bodied adults who do not have dependents and who are aged 18 to 59 to employment and training programs,” Roberts said.  

SNAP is a federal program paid for by federal dollars, while the state is responsible for administering the program. 

Rhonda Rogombe with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy said the bill would cost the state more money, to the tune of $5 million, while reducing the benefits many West Virginians receive. 

“We are spending state dollars to prevent federal dollars from coming into the state,” Rogombe said. 

She said when the state restarted the able bodied requirements in 2023 and also stopped doing additional amounts of money for families, the state lost $34 million worth of cash moving in the state’s economy.

The bill passed along party lines with no debate