CHENANGO COUNTY - Sunday, March 1 marked the day new work requirements for the, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) put into place by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect.

According to state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) any able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) aged 18-64 on SNAP must provide proof of work, volunteering, or school/job training, for at least 20 hours a week, by June 2026, or become ineligible for SNAP benefits.

The Chenango County Department of Social Services (DSS) administers the SNAP program in our county and will be responsible for screening new and current SNAP applicants and instilling the new requirements.

Chenango County DSS Commissioner Daniel Auwarter stated, “notices have been going out to recipients and applicants regarding the new requirements. We have also posted information on our website.”

Working with DSS the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) released a new county-wide employment and training plan to support the new work requirements.

Federal Law No 119-21/Budget Reconciliation Bill H.R.-1 also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) was enacted July 4 2025, it acted to reduces taxes, altered spending for various federal programs, and increased the statutory debt limit.