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1 <br /> J <br /> o"NGE COUNTY <br /> DEPARTMENT OF <br /> SOCIAL SERVICES <br /> 113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 1 919.245.2800 <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> TO: Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br /> FROM: Lindsey Shewmaker, Social Services Director <br /> DATE: October 7,2025 <br /> SUBJECT: HR 1 Food and Nutrition Services Expanded Work Requirements <br /> Summary of Changes <br /> HR 1 made significant changes to the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Program(SNAP). The first of the major changes, <br /> expanded work requirements,will take affect this year and could cause many Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) <br /> recipients to lose benefits. The Orange County Department of Social Services will be working with other County <br /> departments and community partners to educate and inform individuals in those targeted populations about upcoming <br /> changes and will work with the same groups to try to mitigate the impact and keep people connected to benefits. <br /> It is unclear how many people in Orange County will be impacted by the changes,but we do know there are currently 868 <br /> older adults, age 55-64, currently receiving benefits. Statewide, 1 in 8 people receive FNS benefits, according to the North <br /> Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Of those 1.4 million beneficiaries,46,000 are Veterans who may <br /> face eligibility changes depending on additional income and disability factors, 66%are members of families with <br /> children,many of whom will face eligibility changes depending on the age of children in the household, and 20% are <br /> members of families without children who are also likely to face eligibility or work requirement changes. <br /> To stay eligible after the changes are implemented,recipients will need to: <br /> • Work or volunteer at least 20 hours a week, <br /> • Participate in a training program, <br /> • Or be declared medically exempt by a doctor. <br /> Even if a recipient is already meeting these rules,they will now need to submit documentation or risk losing benefits. <br /> Background <br /> On July 4,2025,President Trump signed into law new rules that expand work requirements for the federal SNAP <br /> program,which in North Carolina we call the Food and Nutrition Services Program(FNS). <br /> Orange County Government I www.orangecountync.gov 1 919.732.8181 <br />