Work requirements for public assistance in Pennsylvania

• Work requirements
  • Index of articles related to work requirements
  • Work requirements for public assistance in the states
  • Medicaid work requirements
  • Public housing work requirements
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements
  • Child care subsidy work requirements
• Major arguments
  • Arguments against work requirements for public assistance programs
  • Arguments in favor of work requirements for public assistance programs
• Reform proposals
  • Reform proposals related to Medicaid work requirements
  • Reform proposals related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements
  • Reform proposals related to public housing work requirements
  • Reform proposals related to child care subsidy work requirements
• Laws
• Court cases
• Scholarly work
• Related federal agencies
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

See also: Reform proposals related to work requirements for public assistance programs

This page provides information about work requirements for public assistance in Pennsylvania as of December 2024.

Work requirements for public assistance refer to conditions that require participation in employment-related activities to qualify for the assistance. These activities may include job searching, engaging in job training, volunteering, or working a specified number of hours each week.

Public assistance programs involve the division of responsibilities between the federal government and state governments. The federal government sets eligibility criteria, provides guidelines, and allocates funding for these programs, while states are responsible for administering them and, in some cases, have the authority to tailor the programs to meet local needs.

Ballotpedia has tracked work requirements in Pennsylvania related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), child care subsidies, Medicaid, and public housing. Click here to see work requirements for public assistance in other states.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Previously called food stamps, the federal work requirement is generally 30 hours per week, but for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), it is 20 hours per week. States can request temporary waivers from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to exempt recipients from ABAWD work requirements in areas with an unemployment rate above 10% or insufficient job opportunities. ABAWDs who fail to meet the work requirement can only receive SNAP benefits for up to 3 months in a 36-month period unless they meet the requirement or are exempt.

Child care subsidies

Federal law requires parents receiving Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) subsidies to work or engage in work-related activities. States have flexibility in defining eligible activities, which may include employment, job search, self-employment, education or training, foster care, and subsidized guardianship. Employment is an approved activity for CCDF subsidies in all states, and some states also allow subsidies for education and training.

Medicaid

Medicaid work requirements are eligibility conditions that require recipients to complete certain work-related activities—such as working, pursuing education, participating in a work program, or volunteering—in order to qualify for or maintain benefits. The budget reconciliation bill that was signed into law on July 4, 2025 requires states to adopt community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on Medicaid by January 1, 2027.

Public housing

Public housing work requirements mandate that adult residents (who are not elderly, disabled, or already employed) complete eight hours of community service per month to remain eligible for assistance. Public housing authorities (PHAs) in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Moving to Work (MTW) Program can establish additional work requirements. PHAs must apply to the MTW program to create such requirements.

The following table outlines Pennsylvania's public assistance work requirements by type as of December 2024, including both state and federal requirements, as well as the options available to states for establishing or temporarily suspending work requirements.

Pennsylvania work requirements for public assistance, by type
Type of public assistance	Pennsylvania requirements	Federal requirements	State options
SNAP	Partial waiver as of 2024	20 hours (general)/30 hours (ABAWD)	States can request and implement temporary waivers for the ABAWD work requirements.
Child care subsidy (CCDF)	20 hours	Required, but undefined	States have the authority to set work requirements for child care subsidies.
Medicaid	None	None	States can apply for Section 1115 waivers to implement work requirements, but they must receive approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Public housing	Eight hours of community service	Public housing authorities must apply to the Moving to Work (MTW) Program to implement work requirements.

Work requirements by type of public assistance

Click the tabs below to learn details about each public assistance program:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Child care subsidy (CCDF)

Medicaid

Public housing

See also: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements

Federal law establishes foundational guidelines for SNAP work requirements, setting minimum standards that include defined work hours—SNAP work requirements do not vary by state. While states do not have the authority to fully implement their own specific rules, there is some flexibility in how they administer SNAP. States can determine the specifics of work requirements, define acceptable work activities, and establish processes for tracking compliance.

Pennsylvania SNAP work requirements

The general SNAP work requirement in Pennsylvania is 30 hours per week. Additionally, for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), the requirement is to work at least 80 hours per month or 20 hours per week. As of the fourth quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, Pennsylvania has a partial waiver for work requirements.

Pennsylvania policy regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements

The following is the text of the Pennsylvania policy regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements:

Work Requirements

“

Another way you can continue to receive SNAP benefits after three months is to provide us proof you meet a work requirement. You can do this by: Working on average at least 20 hours per week; Participating in an approved SNAP Employment and Training program for at least 20 hours per week. These programs include, but are not limited to: Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) Employment Advancement Retention Network (EARN) SNAP 50/50 Participating in a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program or a Trade Adjustment Assistance Act program for at least 20 hours per week; or Performing community service with an approved non-profit organization for the number of hours set by your caseworker under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In addition, you can receive more than three months of SNAP benefits if you meet a work or training-related exemption: Earning before-tax wages of at least $870 per week or $217.50 per week, even if you work less than 20 hours per week; or Attending a recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education (other than the programs listed above) more than half-time, even if the institution defines half-time as less than 20 hours per week.

”

Federal SNAP work requirements

See also: U.S. Department of Agriculture

SNAP has two types of work requirements: general work requirements and able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements. The following sections provide information about the two types of SNAP work requirements.

General SNAP work requirements

General SNAP work requirements mandate that individuals aged 16 to 59 who can work must complete the following work-related activities:

• Register for work
• Participate in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs
• Take a suitable job if it is offered
• Not voluntarily quit a job or reduce work hours below 30 hours a week without cause.

Individuals do not have to register for general work requirements if they already meet the following conditions when they apply for SNAP benefits:

• Work at least 30 hours a week
• Meet work requirements for another public benefits program
• Care for a child under six years old or an incapacitated person
• Are unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation
• Are participating in an alcohol or drug treatment program
• Are studying in school
• Are attending a training program

Able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements for SNAP

The ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents) work requirement under SNAP applies to individuals aged 18 to 64 without children. To remain eligible for SNAP, ABAWDs must meet one of the following work-related activities:

• Work or Volunteer: At least 80 hours per month (about 20 hours per week).
• Participate in a Work Program: Participate in a federal, state, or local work program, such as SNAP Education and Training (E&T), for at least 80 hours per month.

Time Limit for ABAWDs

ABAWDs who do not meet the work requirement can only receive SNAP benefits for three months in a 36-month period. After reaching this time limit, they lose eligibility for benefits unless they start meeting the work requirement.

Requalifying for SNAP Benefits

If an ABAWD loses eligibility due to failing to meet the work requirement, they can requalify for benefits by meeting the work requirement for 30 consecutive days. However, if they do not meet the work requirement within this 30-day period, they will be ineligible for SNAP for the next three years.

Time Limit Waivers

States can request temporary waivers for ABAWD work requirements in areas where jobs are scarce. These waivers apply in places with an unemployment rate above 10%, or in noncontiguous states (Alaska and Hawaii) if the unemployment rate is at or above 1.5 times the national unemployment rate.

As of the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year, three states had full ABAWD time limit waivers, and 25 states had waivers for specific counties with high unemployment.

See also: Child care subsidy work requirements

States are responsible for defining the activities that qualify a family for child care subsidies through the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), such as work requirements, education participation, and community service. Employment is an approved activity for CCDF funding in every state and some states also approve subsidies for parents participating in education and training activities.

Pennsylvania child care subsidy (CCDF) work requirements

The work requirement for the child care subsidy (CCDF) in Pennsylvania is 20 hours per week. The following is the text of the Pennsylvania law regarding child care work requirements:

3.1.2 Eligibility criteria: Reason for care

“

For non-TANF families, parents must work an average of 20 hours a week or work at least 10 hours a week and attend a training program for at least 10 hours a week. Work is employment or self-employment. Employment is working for another individual or entity for income. Self-employment is operating one's own business, trade, or profession for profit. For TANF families, parents and caretakers are not required to be employed to receive child care. Parents and caretakers must participate in a training program or complete job search requirements. The TANF eligibility agent determines the employment and training requirements for families receiving TANF benefits.

”

Federal child care subsidy work requirements

Federal law requires that parents receiving CCDF child care subsidies work or complete work-related activities. States are responsible for defining the activities that qualify a family for assistance through CCDF, including work requirements, education participation, and community service. Employment is an approved activity for CCDF funding in every state and some states also approve subsidies for parents participating in education and training activities. Working, periods of job search, self-employment, attending job training or education-related activities, foster care, and subsidized guardianship are activities that meet eligibility standards for CCDF subsidies in different states. State agencies have flexibility in determining eligibility for CCDF subsidies, according to HHS regulations.

See also: Medicaid work requirements

Medicaid work requirements are mandated work-related activities that Medicaid recipients must complete to qualify for benefits, such as applying for a job, interviewing for a job, or participating in job training or volunteer activities. Section 1115 of the Social Security Act of 1935 allows states to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval to develop state-level Medicaid work requirement programs.

Pennsylvania Medicaid work requirements

There are no Medicaid work requirements in Pennsylvania as of December 2024. Pennsylvania applied for a waiver in 2020 but did not receive CMS approval before the Biden administration began withdrawing waivers in 2021.

Federal Medicaid work requirements

Federal law does not universally impose work requirements for Medicaid until 2027. Instead, work requirements have been introduced through state-level waivers under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. These waivers allow states to experiment with different approaches to Medicaid, including work-related criteria. As of 2024, only Georgia has a Medicaid work requirement.

See also: Public housing work requirements

Public housing work requirements are mandated work-related activities that public housing recipients must complete to maintain eligibility for housing assistance, such as applying for a job, interviewing for a job, or participating in job training or volunteer activities.

Pennsylvania public housing work requirements

There are 85 public housing authorities (PHAs) in Pennsylvania. Three PHAs are part of the Move to Work (MTW) program and two list work requirements in their annual applications as of August 2023.

• Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh: "Requires that any non-elderly, able-bodied head of household who is not working to either: a) participate in a self-sufficiency program, including but not limited to the HACP FSS program, other Local Self Sufficiency program (LSS), welfare to work, or other employment preparation and/or training/educational program or b) pay a minimum tenant payment of $150.00 per month. This policy provides additional incentives for families to work or prepare for work and increases overall accountability."

• Philadelphia Housing Authority: "To support and provide incentives for employment and self-sufficiency, PHA plans to implement a pilot program that will establish an MTW continued occupancy policy applicable to new residents at a limited number of target developments and units. The pilot program policy will require all non-disabled adults age 18-54 in the household to complete at least 20 hours per week of employment – or participation in an approved education or job training program - as a condition of continued occupancy. If a 17 year old lives in the household and has dropped out of school, the 20-hour minimum requirement will also apply. Elderly and disabled adults, household members who become elderly or disabled and household members who are caretakers of elderly/disabled family members will be exempt from the continued occupancy requirement. To support residents in achieving compliance, households will be referred, and provided with supportive services as needed, to PHA’s new Workforce Center, where they will be able to work with a PHA Navigator to identify and secure employment, training and supportive service placements and referrals and/or to a PHA partner agency."

Federal public housing work requirements

The federally required work-related activity is eight hours of community service per month for adult residents of public housing who are not elderly, disabled, or already working. Public housing authorities (PHAs) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Move to Work (MTW) program have the flexibility to implement additional work requirements.

Of the 123 public housing authorities (PHAs) authorized to establish work requirements under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Move to Work (MTW) Demonstration Program, 17 had work requirements as of January 9, 2024.

Public housing authorities with work requirements

Noteworthy events

• Pennsylvania renews SNAP work requirement waiver for another year (2024): Pennsylvania received federal approval to extend a waiver of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) through August 31, 2025. The waiver exempts an estimated 170,000 individuals from the federal 80-hour-per-month work rule in 58 of the state’s 67 counties, with partial or discretionary exemptions in the remaining counties. The state is one of 30 with at least a partial ABAWD time-limit waiver in place for the fourth quarter of 2024. Opponents—including 39 Republican state lawmakers—argue the waiver discourages workforce participation during labor shortages, while supporters say time limits don’t increase employment and disproportionately impact vulnerable individuals. SNAP is federally administered by the USDA but implemented by states following federal guidelines.

See also

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work requirements
• Medicaid work requirements
• Public housing work requirements
• Child care subsidy work requirements

External links

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