Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh announced a new tool to connect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients with volunteer opportunities that will help them meet new federal work and reporting requirements for the program and keep their benefits. SNAP recipients can now visit PA Navigate and search for volunteer opportunities in their zip code.
“DHS is committed to doing everything we can to connect Pennsylvanians who receive SNAP with tools and information to help them keep their benefits and feed themselves and their families. Adding volunteer listings to PA Navigate both helps SNAP recipients meet the new federal requirements and helps community-based organizations fill volunteer roles, which are often so important to their ability to serve their communities,” said Secretary Arkoosh.
Under new federal rules, to keep or become eligible for SNAP benefits, certain people have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, and/or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours a week (or 80 hours each month) AND report that they are meeting these requirements.
If SNAP recipients do not meet the new work and reporting requirements, they can only receive three months of SNAP benefits in a three-year period. If someone loses SNAP benefits, they can reapply for SNAP anytime and should reapply if they start to meet work, training, education, or volunteering requirements or if they meet an exemption.
To find volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate:
- Go to pa-navigate.org, enter your ZIP code, and search for “volunteer opportunity.”
- A list of local programs offering volunteer opportunities appears.
- Contact the organization where you want to volunteer to learn more and get connected to volunteer opportunities.
- The organization where you volunteer completes the Community Service Verification Form to track your volunteer hours.
If a community-based organization would like to list volunteer opportunities on PA Navigate, visit https://www.panavigatehelp.org/.
