Food stamps now require more people to work, with fewer exceptions

The US government has tightened rules for who must work to receive food assistance. This means more low-income adults without children will need to prove they are working or looking for a job to get food stamps.

The federal government is changing how it defines who is 'able-bodied' and who needs to work to get food assistance. This shifts the program's focus from simply providing food to pushing people into employment. States will have less flexibility to exempt people from these work requirements, which could mean fewer people receive aid.