>> As many as 450,000 Illinois residents could soon lose their food assistance benefits under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP.

That's according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which is warning of new work requirements set to take effect on February.

1st, the changes came as a result of the so-called one big beautiful bill that became law this past summer.

The Food depository says it's gearing up for a new wave of food and security, but cautions that it can't handle the additional need a loan.

Joining us to discuss the potential impact of the changes are Nolan Downey, senior director of policy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Kenny Robinson in Englewood, residents and Snap recipient.

Thank you both for being here tonight.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

So no one.

Can walk us through the changes to the SNAP program that are set to take effect at the beginning of February?

Yeah.

So what we're concerned about here is the expanded work requirements following the passage of HR one.

>> Now SNAP recipients who are between ages 18 to 64 who don't struggle with any type of physical or mental limitations.

It impacts ability to work and also don't have children under age 14 are now going to have to start meeting new work requirements starting February first.

If they want to maintain their critical nutritional assistance and what happens of SNAP recipients can't make those new requirements.

Yes, honor the work requirements.

These recipients are going to have to work or participate in some type of volunteer or training activity for 80 hours a month.

And if they don't do that, they only get 3 months of staff in a three-year period.

So we think about it sort of like baseball, 3 strikes and you're out and sadly, we think a lot of people are going to be impacted by this.

>> You know, Kenny, I know you're worried that these upcoming changes haven't been clearly communicated to folks who rely on this program.

Are you are you worried people who rely on snap know about the changes are, you know, has that not been clear?

It's not in lot of people on stand that.

>> Ordinary I was, you know, anything can happen that they fall short of way.

I was and get cut off, you know, with they get hurt on the job, working for the stamps.

You know, and everybody I'm saying pay step.

you know, some get less others.

You know, so working for 50, $50 of stamps.

You, Nevada.

I is that it got really one other benefit that we have.

can we look forward to?

about permanent jobs?

You know, things that they think that nature.

I am a petition 10, but I really tired of being I want to work.

I want earn a living and I want to be for the rest of my life.

I've decided that job with bare is out there that hold me back.

Yeah, it's not always a question of, >> you know, on willingness or lack of motivation.

It can be a lack of opportunity as well.

It you know, and I know you've been doing some volunteer work to make sure you're still eligible.

Are you confident you'll be able to stay on SNAP after these changes take place?

I'm not sure that I don't know.

You know, Nolan Snap recipients.

As you mentioned, they've got basically 3 months to meet the new requirements or they'll be kicked out.

But people can still get back on SNAP if that were to happen.

Is that correct?

That's right.

And I think Mr.

Robinson's actually raising a really important point.

>> Of course, if people lose those trees, 3 strikes they can get back on SNAP.

If they start meeting the work requirement again, if they meet those 80 hours a month, they become exempt, they can get back on.

But I think when Mr Robinson's highlighting is really important because often times most people who are on snap unable to work are working.

Folks that are often face severe barriers to work and as Mr.

Robinson's highlighting taking away people's food doesn't make it easier for them to get a job.

We want people to be gainfully employed.

We want people to have jobs to treat them fairly and pay them well, but taking away their food doesn't help with that.

In the research over decades is clear work requirements do not work.

to me.

How about that idea that you'll you'll hear folks who argue for work requirements saying?

>> You know, people are taking advantage of the system or they just don't want to work.

It is that is that true in your experience?

You we 51 you that I want to word OK, why got time?

I want I want to contribute, you know, I want to be able to get a paycheck.

You know, include, come in, come check you into.

just want them a check.

I get from SNAP.

a beneficial.

It was so much get up between.

I mean, I mean, bills, always late phone, get cut off from time to move This is the way to And may I ask, I mean, how much you seeing from snap each month?

One 58 a month that finally and they want to work for that.

And then hours that you have to put in, you know, if you're doing a volunteer job, you know, you're not they're not getting paid for that.

So that doesn't generate any and additional income for exactly.

I mean, what about medical benefits a job doing it for a DUI with full staff I get on the job it didn't pay my medical benefits of I get to out kicking my family.

Don, working for the full Senate.

Well, the benefits do we have?

Can we expect from that from administration of the 45 stamps and what would you say to the folks in Congress or the administration?

>> That have been supportive of these new changes.

These new rules.

>> Station, Well, in fact, could need to work on this.

We to work on this.

>> Well, you know, and as we mentioned earlier, these new requirements are part of the one big beautiful bill passed.

It at the behest of President Trump.

What rationale have we heard from from folks in Washington about why they made this change?

Well, it's the rationale that you're getting at and it's the same tired tropes and misconceptions about benefits recipients of people are receiving these benefits, but that they don't want to work and Mr.

Robinson is highlighting this.

He receives $158 a month.

The average snap benefit per person is about $196.

Nobody is turning down a good job because that's the amount that they're receiving.

That benefit is important for people to supplement their grocery budgets.

But that is not enough.

And so I think a lot of the justification is around these misconceptions, but we should be very clear that the purpose of these expanded work requirements is to kick people off of benefits.

And sadly, that is what I think we're likely to see.

>> And you mentioned a bit of a confusing system.

The sort of 3 strikes.

You know, that you basically don't get those 3 strikes back for another 3 years.

But you're not kicked out of snap for another 3 years.

Is that correct?

As long as you are meeting these requirements again, if you go back to meeting the requirements, you can get back on.

But for so many people.

There are barriers to work that they're not able to overcome.

>> And taking their food assistance away does not make that situation any better.

And so that what the data shows us often is that people lose those benefits right after those 3 months and that they don't make their way back to the program again, if we're interested in people getting good jobs, what we need to do is support them with the food that they need while they're out there looking and trying to navigate this difficult job market because that is what's going help them be more successful.

And again, the research has demonstrated that.

>> And you know, when when these changes were put into place, how were you notified?

are they sending?

Letters that they sending email and that I mean.

Pompeo at which it took them to the snap program, told me your at the reportedly know if I'm able to work at Big big and you have to work at the age limit.

All that was coming take.

>> a letter firms have people say you people who work on a program?

Yeah.

>> So you know, maybe folks are living in a different address temporarily or if they don't have access to their e-mail, they could potentially be falling through the cracks and might not know about shows and they show can some people have might not get the e-mail or >> might be.

Homes will have man in a dress can delay and get cut off their full staff.

>> And, you know, forgive me for sort of an obvious question.

But, you know, if you're out there looking for a job and you don't have adequate food, if you're not sure where that's coming from.

How challenging does that make sound to how you going be evaluate the nourishment district if you don't have if you know food sustain life, I don't want ask you, sir, for a job.

When you lack in full.

We've got about 30 seconds left.

But Nolan, how is the Greater Chicago Food Depository preparing for a possible new search of food and security?

We're going to do everything we can to try to meet this need.

But as you highlighted at the jump.

>> For every meal that snap provides for every meal that we provide.

Snap provides 9.

And so this is not at the scale that we're going to be able to meet.

And so part of the equation now is, are there are additional investment so we can get from the state to try to help people absorb the loss of these critical benefits.

We can meet this need on our own.

We're going to do everything we can.

But I think we need our partners in state government to explore solutions to also think through how we can support people during this crisis.