3SquaresVT, also known as SNAP or EBT, helps thousands of people in Vermont afford food, especially as the cost of basic essentials continues to rise. Eligible households receive monthly benefits on an EBT card, which can be used at grocery stores, convenience stores, and many farmer’s markets. In addition to income requirements and other eligibility rules, some people enrolled in the program must follow 3SquaresVT work rules to keep their benefits
There are two different types of 3SquaresVT work rules and these complex rules can make it hard to understand eligibility. New resources from Vermont Economic Services Division (ESD) aim to clarify these requirements. And, if you’re struggling to meet work requirements because of personal issues, organizations such as Vermont Foodbank may be able to help you become excused from the work rules so you can keep receiving 3SquaresVT.
How Do I Know If I Have to Meet 3SquaresVT Work Rules?
It’s important to know the two work rules do not apply to everyone participating in 3SquaresVT. If you are approved for 3SquaresVT, Economic Services Division (ESD) will let you know if you or anyone in your household needs to meet one or both types of work rules.
What Are the 3SquaresVT Work Rules?
The two types of work rules are called General Work Requirements and Time Limited Benefit Work Requirements. ESD recently published a new webpage to help explain what you need to do if you must meet one or both types of work rules. It also lists all the reasons you can become excused from one or both rules through “exemptions,” like caring for a dependent or having a healthcare provider verify you have a health issue. If you would like even more information, The Vermont Food Help website also has an “Understanding 3SquaresVT Work Reporting Requirements” webpage explaining these rules.
The General Work Requirements focus on reporting employment status. If you receive a letter from ESD about needing to meet General Work Requirements, it doesn’t mean you have to get a job or start working to continue receiving food benefits. This is a common point of confusion for folks curious about their eligibility or trying to stay on the program. For example, by simply submitting an application and keeping ESD informed if you start a job or end a job for good reason, you are following these work rules.
In contrast, the Time Limited Benefit Work Requirements are stricter and do require 3SquaresVT participants to work. If you need to meet this work requirement, you must either:
- work at least 80 hours per month, paid or unpaid (earn at least $935.25 in gross income per month),
- participate in a job training program,
- volunteer for a certain number of hours based on their 3SquaresVT monthly benefit amount,
- or meet an exemption.
If 3SquaresVT participants who need to meet these Time Limited Benefits Work Requirements do not meet these rules and are not excused, they will only receive up to 3 months of 3SquaresVT benefits – so it’s important to check if you do meet an exemption.
Getting Excused Due to a Personal Barrier
First, check ESD’s new webpage to see if you meet one of the listed exemptions – such as experiencing houselessness, being pregnant, or having a health condition verified by a healthcare provider. If you don’t meet any other exemption but have a personal barrier preventing you from being able to work, you may still be able to get temporarily excused from these work requirements to continue receiving 3SquaresVT.
For example, many people want to work but may not have transportation or a driver’s license yet. Sometimes people have a physical or mental health issue preventing them from being able to work but have not been able to see a doctor or counselor. Others may need more time to apply for workers’ compensation or are dealing with a domestic violence situation.
Are you having trouble meeting the Time Limited Benefit Work Requirement due to a personal barrier, and don’t meet any of the other exemptions? Vermont Foodbank, or another organization you are working with, may be able to help. The Foodbank, community action agencies, or case managers can fill out page two of this form showing you have a temporary personal barrier to meeting these work rules. Doing so may help you stay on 3SquaresVT and continue to buy food while you are working through that issue.
You can contact Vermont Foodbank’s 3SquaresVT team by calling 855-855-6181, texting VFBCHAT to 61222 or emailing 3svt@vtfoodbank.org. We would be happy to help! Visit our 3SquaresVT webpage for more information about the program.
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