President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over raising the federal debt ceiling and averting an economic calamity.The bipartisan agreement reached this past weekend includes a compromise on the matter.In exchange for a two-year suspension of the debt limit, Republicans demanded stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, commonly referred to as welfare.However, the deal omitted an earlier and more controversial GOP push for Medicaid work requirements, which would denygovernment-sponsored health coverageto unemployed, able-bodied adults who do not have children."We have additional work requirements that are quite consequential," Rep.
Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told reporters on Sunday.WHAT IS THE DEBT CEILING AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU?Under the current criteria to receive SNAP benefits, able-bodied adults without children who are 49 and younger must work or participate in a training program for at least 80 hours a month.
If not, they can receive benefits for only three months over a three-year period. The debt limit deal would increase the age on those stipulations to 54 and younger.The agreement exempts veterans, homeless people and young adults who are transitioning from foster care from those work requirements – which could actually mean that more Americans qualify for food stamps.Currently, only Americans who are unable to work due to a physical or mental disability or pregnancy are exempt.The changes to the work requirements are temporary and will sunset in 2030.FILE - "SNAP/EBT Food Stamp Benefits Accepted" is displayed on a screen inside a Family Dollar.