SNAP: What You Need to Know The federal government shut down on October 1, 2025 because our Republican-controlled U.S. Congress can’t pass a federal budget. The shutdown doesn’t only impact federal workers. It also means critical, federally funded programs can’t provide their services. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, is one of those critical programs. Just over 4,000 households in our district – over 4,000 of your families! – rely on SNAP to put food on the table. But due to the federal shutdown, these households won’t receive a SNAP payment this November. What Else is Different? New work requirements also go into effect on November 1. Back in September, the federal government’s rules about eligibility and time limits changed, and PA became ineligible to offer waivers by county or municipality. On November 1, the work requirements are changing again. SNAP recipients will still need to report on meeting the work requirements, which include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours per week. But who is required to report will be expanded so that more recipients must do it: The expanded requirements apply if you: Are age 18-64 Do not have a dependent child under the age of 14 Are considered physically and mentally able to work Being a veteran or a current or former foster youth no longer Read more

Because of the Republican-led U.S. government shutdown, Pennsylvania is being forced to delay LIHEAP—vital home-heating assistance for 300,000 families—by a full month. The program will open December 3, 2025 intead of its previously planned November 3. If you need help heating your home this winter, here's a list of utility companies' assistance programs. https://www.puc.pa.gov/about-the-puc/consumer-education/utility-assistance-programs/ . Read more