JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – SNAP benefits were paused during the government shutdown, causing concern for many families. Now that benefits are being distributed again, recipients may have to reapply entirely.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently told Newsmax that the Trump administration is cracking down on fraud by requiring everyone to reapply for SNAP benefits.
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new work requirements for SNAP that took effect Nov. 1.
RELATED: New concerns emerge among SNAP recipients after USDA says everyone must reapply for benefits
News4JAX followed up with Ross Torrence, a local father who has been struggling to support his family.
Our previous conversation with Ross Torrence can be watched below
Torrence said he finally received his SNAP benefits but now must go through the reapplication process.
“It’s just like basically they’re just making it harder and harder, just more of a tug and a tug of being able to receive these benefits,” Torrence said. “Every six months we already got to do a recertification...It’s supposed to be something that’s a supplement for the families to have.”
Previously, Torrence worked at Wendy’s and took on extra work as a delivery driver to support his six children. He lost his job at Wendy’s and is now relying on delivery driving while searching for new employment.
“I just have to keep it pushing. I’ve been applying to other places of employment,” he said.
Despite trying to stay positive, Torrence knows reapplying for SNAP while job hunting will be difficult.
“I’m doing rideshare, but the government would not count that as employment to be able to make me eligible to receive SNAP. So it’s a bunch of different challenges that we’re gonna face, and we just have to be ready for as it comes,” Torrence said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Torrence’s family as he continues his job search.