SNAP Next Step Act: New Job Training Access and a 'Will I Lose My Benefits?' Calculator

The SNAP Next Step Act of 2025 is aiming to smooth the path from receiving food assistance to finding steady work by tackling two common roadblocks: access to job training and the fear of losing benefits when taking a new job.

This bill introduces a new category of people, called "covered individuals," who are eligible for federally funded job training under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you’re currently getting SNAP benefits, you’re unemployed or underemployed, and you aren't getting cash assistance from TANF, you fit the bill (Section 2). Essentially, the bill carves out a clear, defined group of SNAP recipients whom states can now actively target and enroll in WIOA job training programs using existing administrative funds. It’s about making sure that if you’re using SNAP, you have a direct line to training that can help you move up, without the state having to jump through extra hoops to get you signed up.

The 'Is This Job Worth It?' Calculator

Perhaps the most relatable change is found in Section 3, which allows state SNAP agencies to develop a public employment calculator for their websites. If you’ve ever considered taking a part-time job or a promotion but worried about how much of your SNAP benefit you’d lose, this calculator is designed for you. It lets participants plug in potential new earnings and instantly see if their total household benefits would go up or down. This addresses the infamous "benefit cliff"—the fear that a small raise or new job could suddenly wipe out more in assistance than it provides in wages. For busy people juggling bills, this tool offers quick, essential financial transparency, allowing them to make informed decisions without having to call a caseworker or manually calculate complex benefit formulas. States can pay for the development and maintenance of this calculator using their existing administrative budgets.

The Fine Print on Eligibility

While expanding access to WIOA training is a clear benefit, it’s worth noting the specifics of who gets looped in. The bill explicitly excludes people already enrolled in a state-labeled “Employment First” program from this new pathway (Section 2). This means if your state already has a mandatory work program, you might not be able to access the WIOA funds through this specific new route. For example, if you’re a construction worker looking to transition to specialized welding training, your eligibility could depend on the specific employment program you’re currently in, which might create an unnecessary barrier to accessing these specialized WIOA funds.

Overall, the SNAP Next Step Act focuses on practical tools and clear pathways. By allowing states to fund a transparent earnings calculator, it empowers recipients to understand the financial reality of working. By creating a specific definition for WIOA eligibility, it streamlines the process of getting training into the hands of those who need it most to transition to full-time employment.