Some Mississippi residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may lose those benefits starting April 1 if they do not satisfy certain work-related requirements.

There are approximately 611,000 people in Mississippi who receive the federally-funded benefits, which are commonly known as SNAP. Recipients between the ages of 18 and 49 who have no dependents — known as an Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) — must participate in qualifying employment and training activities to maintain SNAP eligibility. For the past decade, however, Mississippi has received a waiver for that rule.

In January, Gov. Phil Bryant directed the Mississippi Department of Human Services not to seek an extension on the waiver. Bryant said he decided against the waiver because he wanted to steer people toward jobs, rather than asking the federal government to waive work requirements.

“The Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the state’s WIN Job Centers are available to help these individuals find employment,” Clay Chandler, the governor’s spokesperson, told the Associated Press.

SNAP recipients who fail to meet ABAWD work requirements will be restricted to receiving their benefits for three months out of each 36 months.

Mississippi implemented the work requirements on Jan. 1, so the three-month period will end for some SNAP recipients on March 30.

In the Golden Triangle, approximately 31,000 people receive SNAP benefits. Of those, approximately 4,000 are ABAWDs, according to the state DHS.

Paul Nelson, public information officer with the state DHS, told The Dispatch on Monday the department does not know how many ABAWDs could potentially lose their SNAP benefits with the waiver no longer in place.

Across the entire state 48,995 SNAP recipients are ABAWDs. Of those, 2,325 are employed, and Nelson said 4,427 exemptions have been issued.

Exempted from the rule are pregnant women, people working 30 or more hours per week, and those who are mentally or physically unable to work, according to Nelson.

Mississippi has the nation’s worst unemployment rate at 6.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A need

Columbus-based Salvation Army commanding officer Maj. Alan Phillips said food is the charity’s biggest activity. He said the Salvation Army gives out food on Tuesdays and some Fridays and can draw as many as 20 people per day.

“Food is our biggest need by far,” Phillips said.

Phillips said the Salvation Army is considering implementing policies similar to the SNAP work requirements.

“We really want to talk to them when they’re here and see what’s going on and the things they do,” Phillips said. “We might suggest that they come back with proof that they’re looking for work. Even if we have it in place, we need to give some latitude to be able to tell what’s going on. We don’t require it from disabled people or seniors, but people who can work.”

Jared Ward, director of the Bread of Life food pantry, said they feed an average of about 250 people per month.

The pantry is open on the first and third Thursdays of the month. He said it’s hard to determine what impact the SNAP changes might have. For the moment, though, the pantry does not require proof of work.

Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.