Carleen Hicks has cared for her grandchildren for nearly a decade after her daughter was shot, became partially paralyzed, and developed a drug habit. The 54-year-old, who works as a custodian at Chapel of the Cross Church in Madison, said she relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, but found the recertification process confusing and time-consuming.
Hicks said she fell off the program in 2024 because she could no longer justify missing work for lengthy appointments. Since then, her family has eaten less fresh produce and meat, she added. Experts warn that similar stories will become more common following new federal SNAP work requirements that took effect in November.
Under the expanded rules, adults between 55 and 64 and caregivers of children older than 13 must work 80 hours a month to qualify for food benefits. Previously, adults over 54 and caregivers of children under 18 were exempt. The change is expected to strain an already overburdened system, said state and national advocates.
Older adults are more likely to have fixed incomes, limited access to technology, and health issues that complicate compliance with the new requirements. In Mississippi, 3.3% of children live in grandparent-led households — more than double the national average and among the highest in the country.
Gina Plata-Nino, director of SNAP at the Food Research and Action Center, criticized the arbitrary age cutoff for children, saying it overlooks the ongoing responsibilities of caregiving. “The expanded requirements suggest parents’ responsibilities have shifted overnight,” she said.
Hicks recounted hours spent at the Hinds County Department of Human Services for recertification, only to be asked for more documents days later. She also received a letter claiming she missed a phone appointment, which she said she never received. Similar experiences were shared by two other women interviewed by Mississippi Today.
Federal law changes enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump in July, increased work requirements and eliminated exemptions for certain groups, including unhoused individuals, veterans, and young adults who aged out of foster care. Those without exemptions must log work hours, attend interviews, and provide documentation every six months or risk losing benefits after three months.
Caregivers like Hicks find the rules exhausting and unfair. Hicks argued that children’s needs should not change based on age and called for policies that ensure children in vulnerable families receive adequate support. “It should be mandatory that the kids get food stamps if you’re in a certain income bracket,” she said.
Experts warn that the long-term effects of these policies could include more people losing access to SNAP due to increased paperwork, stricter eligibility, and potential state-level cuts to cover rising costs. They also highlight the additional challenges faced by older caregivers, including discrimination in the job market and health issues, which limit their ability to meet work requirements.
Overall, advocates emphasize that families caring for children outside the traditional parental structure often face higher poverty rates. They argue that political considerations should not come at the expense of vulnerable children and caregivers.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
