Free Holiday Giveaway in Bridgeton, New Jersey
Next, we head to Bridgeton, NJ, where Tony Hill, founder of Games on the Go Mobile Entertainment and the Keeping Young Minds Occupied Foundation (KYMO), is leading a massive holiday celebration for families in Cumberland and Salem Counties. Partnering with Santa, Games on the Go, KYMO, and the Bridgeton Auto Mall, this free holiday giveaway includes toys, sneakers, food, games, face painting, a DJ, photo ops with the Grinch, and more—bringing joy, connection, and community togetherness.
Event Details
🎁 Annual FREE Gifts & Kicks Holiday Giveaway
📅 Tuesday, December 23, 2025
📍 Hope Loft 40 East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Activities include toys, sneakers, food, holiday crafts, game truck, DJ, face painting, and special guest appearances. 📞 Games on the Go / KYMO Phone: 856-500-4242 Special thanks to event partners and sponsors including Bridgeton Auto Mall, Hope Loft, Bridgeton Police Department, Life Worth Living, City of Bridgeton UEZA, Bridgeton Public Library, Carmello’s Ristorante, Cohanzick Zoo, Acenda Healthcare, and many more.
Rodney McLeod & Change Our Future Holiday Giveaway
We close with former Philadelphia Eagle and Super Bowl champion Rodney McLeod and his wife Erika, who continue their commitment to giving back through their nonprofit Change Our Future. This holiday season, they are adopting 10 families and providing 250 Philadelphia children with winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and food. Rodney shares the inspiration behind their mission and details their upcoming holiday giveaway.
Event Details
🎄 Change Our Future Holiday Giveaway
📅 Monday, December 22, 2025
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Furness High School 1900 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA Providing:
🌐 Website: https://www.changeourfuture.org
📱 Instagram: @changeourfuture
📘 Facebook: Change Our Future
Protecting SNAP Benefits
We begin with urgent information about changes to SNAP benefits that could cause thousands of individuals and families to lose food assistance. Joining us is Mackenzie Libbey, Staff Attorney in the Health & Independence Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. Mackenzie breaks down new work requirements that took effect September 1st, explains who may qualify for exemptions, what to do if you receive a termination notice, and how to protect your benefits. Community Legal Services Resources
🌐 Website: www.clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
📞 Phone: 215-981-3700
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @clsphila
🔗 LinkedIn: Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Next, we head to Bridgeton, NJ, where Tony Hill, founder of Games on the Go Mobile Entertainment and the Keeping Young Minds Occupied Foundation (KYMO), is leading a massive holiday celebration for families in Cumberland and Salem Counties. Partnering with Santa, Games on the Go, KYMO, and the Bridgeton Auto Mall, this free holiday giveaway includes toys, sneakers, food, games, face painting, a DJ, photo ops with the Grinch, and more—bringing joy, connection, and community togetherness.
Event Details
🎁 Annual FREE Gifts & Kicks Holiday Giveaway
📅 Tuesday, December 23, 2025
📍 Hope Loft 40 East Commerce Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Activities include toys, sneakers, food, holiday crafts, game truck, DJ, face painting, and special guest appearances. 📞 Games on the Go / KYMO Phone: 856-500-4242 Special thanks to event partners and sponsors including Bridgeton Auto Mall, Hope Loft, Bridgeton Police Department, Life Worth Living, City of Bridgeton UEZA, Bridgeton Public Library, Carmello’s Ristorante, Cohanzick Zoo, Acenda Healthcare, and many more.
Rodney McLeod & Change Our Future Holiday Giveaway
We close with former Philadelphia Eagle and Super Bowl champion Rodney McLeod and his wife Erika, who continue their commitment to giving back through their nonprofit Change Our Future. This holiday season, they are adopting 10 families and providing 250 Philadelphia children with winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, toys, and food. Rodney shares the inspiration behind their mission and details their upcoming holiday giveaway.
Event Details
🎄 Change Our Future Holiday Giveaway
📅 Monday, December 22, 2025
⏰ 4:30 PM
📍 Furness High School 1900 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA Providing:
- Winter coats, hats, scarves & gloves
- Toys for children
- Food for families
- Support for 10 adopted families and 250 children
🌐 Website: https://www.changeourfuture.org
📱 Instagram: @changeourfuture
📘 Facebook: Change Our Future
Protecting SNAP Benefits
We begin with urgent information about changes to SNAP benefits that could cause thousands of individuals and families to lose food assistance. Joining us is Mackenzie Libbey, Staff Attorney in the Health & Independence Unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. Mackenzie breaks down new work requirements that took effect September 1st, explains who may qualify for exemptions, what to do if you receive a termination notice, and how to protect your benefits. Community Legal Services Resources
🌐 Website: www.clsphila.org/SNAPchanges
📞 Phone: 215-981-3700
📱 Instagram & Facebook: @clsphila
🔗 LinkedIn: Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. You're listening to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballad Morrell. Today we're talking about
important legislation passed by Congress that could result in snap
benefits ending for countless individuals and families. In just a
few minutes, will be joined by Community Legal Services to
break down what this means and who may be impacted
(00:20):
and what steps you can take to protect your benefits.
But first, we want to highlight two wonderful holiday events
that reflect the power of community. A toy and winter
clothing giveaway from a foundation founded by former Philadelphia Eagle
and Super Bowl champion Rodney McLeod with his wife Erica,
showing what it truly means to show up for our
neighbors when it matters the most. But first we start
(00:42):
in Bridgeton, New Jersey with a community centered holiday event
making a real difference for families. All right, we've got
Tony Hill, who is owner of Games on the Go
Mobile entertainment and the nonprofit Keeping Young Minds Occupied Foundation. Tony,
you've got an event. Give us all the details.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
From December twenty third, Miss Low, we have our annual
Gifts and Kicks giveaway going down. We're going to be
at forty East Commerce Street at Hope Law. Our time
is going to be five pm to eight pm. So
again we'll be at Hope Law from five pm to
eight pm doing our annual Gifts and Kicks holiday giveaway.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So you're going to be giving away toys and kicks.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Right, yes, fresh kicks.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
That's the only kind. You've got a lot of sponsors,
so give them a shout out.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Bridgton Police Department, the Bridgton You Easy your Fuel Sports,
Durint Flying First Class Equestrian Center, Start and Start Orbit
Building Materials, Carmelo's Hope Laws Games on the Go, Shears Barbershop,
o Haansig View, Briton Area Chamber of Commerce, Epic Elevations,
Life Worth Living and High Heart.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
If people want more information, where do they go?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
They can contact me at eight five six five zero
zero forty two forty two.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Well, thank you and thanks for all that you're doing
for our community.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Thank you so much, Yes, ma'am, thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Former Philadelphia Eagle Rodney McLeod and his wife Erica are
continuing their commitment to giving back through their nonprofit Change
Our Future. This holiday season, they're expanding their impact in
a big way, adopting ten families and providing two hundred
and fifty Philadelphia children with winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, toys,
and food to take home. We're excited to talk with
(02:28):
Rodney about the mission behind Change Our Future and the
upcoming holiday giveaway on December twenty second at Furness High School. Rodney,
so great to see you and all the great things
that you're doing. I wonder if you can kind of
tell us a little bit of the backstory about why
you and Erica, your wife, decided to come up with
(02:49):
this nonprofit, Change Our Future. Most of us know you
from the Eagles, but we also are more and more
knowing you about the great commitment that you've made to
our community. So tell us a little bit about the
origin story of Change our Future.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, happy holidays to you, but I honestly Change our Future.
You know, it was really birth because of the passion
for kids that that Eric and I both possess and
wanting to you know, create a pathway of opportunity, of
access of resources for you know, a lot of kids
(03:28):
that look like Eric and I and recognizing a lot
of the challenges that many of those individuals face, particularly
when it comes to the access of education. You know,
a lot is determined by your zip code, and so
you know, wanted to kind of breed be a bridge,
you know, for a lot of these kids, to give
(03:50):
them exposure, to give them different experiences that would help
propel them throughout their life and introduce them to you know,
many of possibilities that live outside their doorstep that they,
you know, may have never thought of or even imagine.
And it's been a blessing just to stand alongside a
ton of youth recognizing that they are our future. If
(04:13):
we want to really you know, seek change, it is
through the minds and shoulders of.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Our next generation. And that's been our mission.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
And so it's been incredible just to see you know,
as many kids if we've impacted and looking to continue
to impact a lot more going forward.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Well, the Holiday Giveaway is a major expansion, supporting ten
full families and two hundred and fifty kids with winter essentials, toys,
and food. Why was it important to scale up the
impact this year?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
It was important for us to scale up because of
just the times that we're facing right now, you know it.
Christmas is the favorite holiday for Eric she goes above
and beyond in our own household, and so, you know,
we wanted to really bring the holiday cheer to the community.
(05:08):
And you know, we've been hosting this initiative for the
past five years, going on year six now, and it's
just very moving when you hear the stories of a
ton of families what they're going through and facing and
we want to you know, be a symbol of hope,
of possibility, and that's what this event activates, you know,
(05:32):
when we bring out all of these families and we
make you know, their dreams come true. Just for this
moment is incredible and it really just puts you know,
life in perspective, you know, for not only us, but
a ton of people who come out and volunteer. And
so not only are we going to help you know,
(05:53):
ten special families that are experiencing a wide variety of
different crisis right now, but we're going to support two
hundred and fifty kids in the community by providing them
with the opportunity to you know, get a toy, a coat,
a meal. And again, the holidays are just so you know,
(06:16):
stressful as is, and so for us to kind of
lighten that load, take the burden off just for a day,
a couple of minutes is a rewarding feeling, and I
know a ton of it blesses a ton of people
because of it.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Well, we're going to get into the specifics about the
event and how people can participate, but let's let's catch
people up to where you've been these days, because we
were just chatting before we started this interview, and it
looks like you're moving into that sports broadcast space. Tell
us all the things you're doing. It's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, So the past few months, I've been on the
journey of of being a actual broadcaster color commentary calling
college games for a SEC network under the Goddess of ESPN,
and it's it's been a great year as far.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
You know, I've learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I've grown in a ton of spaces, and you know,
you leave a space of mastery and kind of go
into now a position of inexperience and you have to
kind of reinvent yourself and relearn what that feels like again.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
But it's been rewarding for me.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I've really just embraced every moment of it, and it's incredible.
Just shine and light on this next generation of talent
of college athletes, giving my perspective and teaching the game,
you know, in the best way that I know how
for a lot of viewers out there.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Well, of course, since you are for Eagle and you
are a sports commentator, I have to ask you about
the current Eagles team. And I know maybe there's certain
things you can't say, but the Eagles, it's it's a
roller coaster ride. Oh my god, I think you know,
they break our hearts and then they make our hearts
(08:13):
explode with joy. What's going on? It's been such an
up and down season for the Eagles this year.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, I feel like pretty pretty Eagles. You know, they're
facing you know, Super Bowl hangover. I guess you would
call it. But I think the main thing, you know,
is injuries that have played this team this year, particularly
on the offensiveloone side. I think that's really hindered their
ability to run the football effectively, you know, keep kind
(08:45):
of a Jalen protected and not under durest like. I
think all those things have contributed to some of the
struggles offensively both. I think on the encouraging side has
been the defense. I mean, I'm a defensive guy. That's
what I made my living. And when you have a
defense plan at the at the level that they are,
(09:07):
you still are capable of making all of your dreams happen,
you know, which for them is another super Bowl. So
you know, I believe it's they have to kind of
reshape you know, their identity a little bit. And and
maybe you know, all of us were thinking that the
offense is going to lead this team, but it's actually
a defense driving it.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
And so that's not there's nothing bad about that.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I think they just have to they have to really
commit to it and figure out ways for them offensively
to not lose the game kind of you know, come
in with a different approach. But I believe they'll they'll
be fine. They got some pick me up games coming
up down this stretch, you know, that started last week
to kind of get back in their groove.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, they did crush last week. That was pretty pretty awesome.
And then my final question before we get into the
specifics of the giveaway is just what life is like
after after playing football. That's such an intense career to have.
The highs are incredible, the lows can be devastating, and
(10:08):
then the impact on your body is so extreme. I
think you are fortunate and you kind of got out
while your body was still more or less intact. Right,
So tell us a little bit about what it's like
to be, you know, past the professional football career that
you've had. I mean, you've certainly expanded into the community
space and now into the broadcasting space. But tell us
(10:31):
what that transition is like, and also maybe how hard
it is for some other players to move from playing
to not playing.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah, life had the football is different. It does come
with a challenge.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
And the challenge is, you know, you now have you
don't have your days mapped out for you.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
You know, you now have to be your own CEO,
your own.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
General manager, coordinator, you know, all those positions that we're
accustomed to and driving us on a regular occasion on
when we should show up or how we should show up.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
You know, you're now tasked with that.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
And I think you know, God's biggest struggle is the
idle time is how do I utilize the time, the
free time that I have and figuring out what their
next passion or interest is like, how they want to
show up in the world and still feel a sense
of purpose and drive and you know, all those feelings
(11:30):
that come about when you play ball. You know, a
lot of us have been doing this since we were kids,
you know, for me six years old, so football has
been a part of my life for as long as
I can remember. And you know, there are a lot
of guys that choose to wipe out football from their lives.
There are some of us, you know, like myself, that
(11:54):
still need to be around the game in some capacity,
and then there are a ton of others that.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Are kind of you know, in limbo and which direction.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So I think the like the toughest part is is
the scheduling and finding your purpose and the quicker you know,
guys can really adapt to the new norm.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
It really is beneficial for them.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I know, for me, I've always taken that that off
season to you know, kind of switch gears and put
on a different hat so that you know, I didn't
let toime just pass me by.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I still was productive.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I still felt like I was working towards something, and
a lot of that was the nonprofit, uh, you know,
change our future. You know, it keeps me up just
as just as much as as ball died, because it
is so intense and in my role and you know,
trying to you know, leave your mark on this world
in a positive manner on the way that we're doing.
(12:51):
And so outside of that, it was, you know, doing
things like this, getting reps in the broadcast field. The
transition has been easier, but I'm not saying that my
transition is done because I'm still trying to discover what
I actually want to do, how i want to show
up in the world. So I'm still evolving myself. I'm
(13:11):
still in it. I'm fresh, but just embracing every day.
And then on the other side, it allows you to
spend a lot of time with family, so, you know,
a lot of the lost time that I didn't get,
I actually can I have a holiday that I can
spend time with my wife and my daughter, visit family.
You know, we're actually going to Maryland this weekend and
then New York for Christmas. So those moments right there
(13:35):
really are fulfilling and fill my cup because I've been
yearning for that for a very long time and it
was one of the reasons why I did choose to
walk away.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Yeah, well, You've done a great job at designing your
post football career, and certainly part of that is change
our future and this event that's happening this holiday giveaway
on December twenty second at Furnace High School. Give us
some of the details and who can participate? Is can
anyone come and take advantage of this? Do they need to direct?
(14:06):
Tell us all the details.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Yeah, so we're very excited.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
You know, this is the sixth annual Philo card is
looking completely different. You know, you're now walking into Change
our Futures, Christmas Shop Winter Wonderland Field and we'll be
hosting it at Furness High School four thirty to six thirty.
We'll be supplying coats, toys, hats and also food. You know,
we're aiming to serve two hundred and fifty kids. It
(14:32):
is first come, first serve. You're entered through the cafeteria.
You'll get a ticket voucher for each item you'll walk through,
be able to collect those items.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
And man, we'll have a great time.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
You know, iHeart to be there roxy and be there
on great music, some good holiday cheer in spirit, just
to get everybody in that mood for Christmas and just
a celebration of just life, just thankfulness and community. Because
we'll have a ton of volunteers there that are helping
support and we can't do it without the shoulders and
(15:05):
arms of those that support us.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So Rodney, I know that you can't do this alone.
You and Erica have a lot of great supporters. Who
are they?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Yes, so some of our supporters that have graciously linked
arms with us.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
It takes a village.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
They address a lot of food and securities here in
the Philadelphia community. They'll be providing food for families, which
is incredible. And then we've also partnered with Toys for
Tots that will be giving us a number of just
amazing toys for our children for them to come out
and pick up an item, a toy their choice. So
(15:43):
we're extremely grateful for the community support and what they're
doing to make a difference in the kid's life.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Fantastic. So if people want more information about not only
this particular event which is happening on the twenty second
at Furness High School starting at four thirty is that right?
Four thirty?
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Thirty, Yeah, four thirty to six thirty. Man, first come,
first served, Get there early the minute, get there, get
there early as you can bundle up.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
You know, there could be a line. We used to
the code. So I think it'll be maybe a little warmer.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Day than what we've experienced the past couple of days,
So just come out. We're looking forward to seeing everybody
having a great time and you know, just providing some holidays.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Chere fantastic and what's your website for more information?
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Website is Changeourfuture dot org and then Instagram is Changed
our Future Fund. You'll find all the details about the
event coming up on December twenty second, and all the
other great programs and activities we have coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Wonderful former Philadelphia Eagle Rodney McLeod who, along with his
wife Erica, are continuing their commitment to giving back through
their nonprofit Change Our Future, and this holiday season they
are doing a major holiday give way on December twenty
second at Furness High School. Rodney, thank you for all
that you do, you and Erica, and the best of
(17:07):
luck in your new direction on the media. And hopefully
one day we'll see you on Monday Night football. You
never know, right, I love forward to it.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
That is great, Thank you so much. Today we're joined
by Lydia Gottisfeld, a Managing attorney in the Health and
Independence Unit at Community Legal.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Services of Philadelphia. She works with residents navigating public benefits
and health related legal issues. She's here to break down
important changes to SNAP that took effect on September first,
and what Philadelphians need to know to protect their food assistance. Well,
thank you so much for joining us here today. And
I just have to hearken back to my early twenties.
(17:53):
I was just out of college, I had four roommates,
I was making barely minimum wage, and I actually applied
for food stamps, and I have to tell you that
the process was so confusing and so onerous that I
gave up. And so I can't even begin to imagine
the obstacles that people must face when applying for SNAP benefits.
(18:16):
But now with the additional changes to SNAP benefits, then
that puts you into a whole new category of oh darn.
So let's start with the basics. What changed with SNAP
work requirements on September first, and who is most affected
by these new rules.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
Well, Laurene, thanks for having me today. On September one,
SNAP work requirements went into effect in Philadelphia. They had
not been in effect before, and in most of Pennsylvania now,
the SNAP program has long had work requirements but it
also always had a way for certain places to be
(18:57):
accepted from the work requirements because of the unemploy rate,
and that went away or was made much harder when
HR one passed and became a law in July. And
so because of that, now all of Pennsylvania is going
to have to have these work requirements and that rolled
out starting September first. So this is really the first
(19:18):
time Philadelphians have ever been subject to these work requirements.
And what they are is that somebody either has to
be found to be complying with the work requirements or
exempt from the work requirements in order to keep their Snap.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
For longer than three months.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
If you're not complying with them and you're not exempt
from them, then you only get snapped for three months.
It's called a time limit, a time limit on the
amount of Snap you can get.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Okay, so we'll talk a little bit more and unpack
that in just a minute. But many people are hearing
that they may only qualify for Snap for three months,
as you mentioned, every three years, can you explain what
does that actually mean in real world terms?
Speaker 6 (20:01):
So, in real world terms, what that means is that
if you don't raise your hand and say hey, I
meet an exemption or hey I'm working and you don't already.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
Know about it.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
Then after three months of getting SNAP, you meet your
SNAP in September, October, in theory November, but November didn't count,
so December, and then you get a notice that says
you're going to lose your Snap. Your Snap will end.
And then people you know into the next month that
don't have SNAP unless they're able to show that they
(20:34):
meet the requirements, which many, many, many people do.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Before we get into talking about the exemptions and ways
to navigate this new series of rules, let's talk about
who gets SNAP, because I think there's a certain preconception
that people have that may not be accurate. So who
is actually receiving SNAP?
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Well, for starters, there's two million people in the state
of Pennsylvania who are receiving SNAP.
Speaker 7 (21:02):
So these are many people in our communities.
Speaker 6 (21:05):
And what we see at Community Legal Services is families
with children where many times the parents are working, but
with the wages that are available to folks, that SNAP
is really important to supplement and come.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
To put food on the table for the family. So
we see working.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
Families a lot, many many seniors right, and most of
those seniors won't be subject to the work requirements, but
lots of folks who are on fixed incomes, people with disabilities,
seniors who really need that.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Extra support to afford food.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
But really, people who receive SNAP run the gamut. We
see young people like you once were, who were struggling
to get their footing and may you know, fall out
of work for a few months and need something to
help bridge the gap to maintain stability in their lives.
We see people who who who get sick, who have
an injury, and they're just scrambling to pay all their bills,
(22:01):
and SNAP can be a key piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
You've said that many adults actually qualify for exemption, So
what are some of the most common exemptions that people
may not realize that apply to them.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I should start by saying that not everybody who
receives SNAP is even subject to these work requirements to
begin with. So if you're over, if you're sixty five
and older, you don't have to worry about these work requirements.
If you're eighteen and younger, you don't have to worry
about these work currents. I mean, if you're younger than eighteen,
So people who are age eighteen to sixty four are
(22:35):
going to be subject to these work requirements unless they're
receiving disability related benefit like Disability Insurance SSI, veterans Disability benefit,
home and community based services. You know, those sorts of
folks are going to be pulled out of this pool
of folks who are subject to it. And the other
big group that's going to be pulled out is households that.
Speaker 7 (22:58):
Have children under the age of fourteen.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
So all of those folks shouldn't have to do anything.
They're just not going to have to deal with the
paperwork or the notices. But for everyone else, you should
be thinking about what are the exemptions and do I
qualify if you know, if I'm not working to meet
those requirements. And here's the big ones that we see
for our clients. Caregivers, okay, caregivers for an elderly or
(23:24):
disabled individual.
Speaker 7 (23:25):
That individual doesn't have to be in your household.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
A lot a lot of people are caregiving out there, right.
We see this for people who have older children teenagers.
Maybe you know they're over that age fourteen, but they
have autism or some other condition that requires a lot
of care from the parent right, those households are going
to be exempt, that caregiver's going to be exempt, and
people who are caring for parents, people are caring for
(23:50):
a disabled family member. You know, this one comes up
a lot other exemptions, pregnancity, applying for or receiving unemployment compensation,
being in school or job training program. That's a big
one again for that sort of transition age youth that
I talked about who are often seeking SNAP. And then
(24:10):
the other really big one that we talked about with
folks is if you have a medical condition that reduces
your ability to work. So this is not folks who
are necessarily already on disability, but you have something that
just makes it a little bit more difficult to work,
that maybe results in your having.
Speaker 7 (24:27):
Uneven work or what have you.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
For that one, folks are going to have to get
a form signed by their medical provider. But the standard
is what I said, a condition that reduces your ability
to work. It doesn't mean you're permanently disabled, it doesn't
mean you can't work at all.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
It's a condition that reduces your ability to work.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
And frankly, there's a lot of folks who are receiving
STAP who are dealing with long term, chronic conditions that
make it hard to hold down like a steady job
all the time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
If someone does not meet an exemption or comply with
work requirements, tell us walk us through what happens to
their SNAP benefits and how long could they lose assistance.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
So, if you haven't shown that you're compliant or exempt
from the work requirements, you will get a notice it
says that you're going to lose your SNAP.
Speaker 7 (25:14):
The reason listen on.
Speaker 6 (25:15):
The notice is because of the time limit. That's what
that says, time limit. It means work requirements. What we're
urging folks to do is appeal those notices. If you
appeal within fifteen days on the date of the notice,
you can keep your SNAP while the appeals pending and
use that time all the appeals pending to get the
County Assistants Office information about either how you're exempt, or
(25:40):
whether you are working or volunteering or in a job
training program, and otherwise showing that you're complying with the
work requirement and if you're not, if you don't appeal,
then you will lose your SNAP on the date that
it says on the notice. If you do appeal. You
can work with the County Assistant's office, let them know
about your exempt status, let them know about your compliant status,
(26:02):
and they if they receive that information from you, they
should be able to approve your SNAP moving forward. If
they don't and you lose your SNAP, you're not eligible
to apply for SNAP again until this three year period,
in which would be December twenty to twenty six, unless
you become exempt or compliant from the work requirements. Okay,
(26:25):
so it's three the titlement is three months and three years.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
But you can always raise your hand and say I'm exempt,
I'm complying, and get back on right.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
It's only that three months and three years if you're
just not exempted, not complying.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Gotcha. What should immigrants with green cards know about these
changes and why is it so important that they report
their status to the County Assistant's office.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Another change created by HR one was to change the
immigrant eligibility rules for SNAP and for Medicaid that the
Medicaid aren't in affect you. It's really important for green
card holders to let the County assistants know that the
countiestse offus know they have green cards, because if they don't,
(27:11):
they will very likely lose their SNAP at their next renewal.
Before the HR one changes past certain non citizen statuses,
people with certain non citizen statuses could access SNAP, Refugees, Assi, les,
a few others. Many of those folks are on a
(27:32):
path to a green card, and so it's really important
that they let the County Assistant of US know that
they actually have that green card if they do right,
so that they don't phase cut off at their next renewal.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
There's got to be a certain reluctance to do exactly
that because of the current climate and people being so
scared to check in with various government agencies for fear
they might be swept up by eye. So what would
you say to those folks.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
Well, if you're receiving benefits from the Department of Human
Services in Pennsylvania, they already have your information, they know
who you are. I think submitting your green card to
them doesn't change anything from that perspective. The only thing
that does that enables you to keep SNAP. And the
other thing I would say is for folks receiving SNAP,
Pennsylvania is one of the states that's involved in litigation
(28:26):
to prevent people's SNAP data to be used for the
purpose of immigration enforcement, so that's not currently happening at
this time when it comes to SNAP.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Okay, that's good to know. You've warned people to watch
closely for SNAP termination notices. If someone receives one, what
can they do immediately to protect their rights?
Speaker 6 (28:48):
Well, we urge them to contact the County Assistant's office
and appeal the decision. This gives them time to sort
out one of the exemptions. Am I exempt? Do they
have my work information? And hold on to their SNAP?
And the reason it's important to appeal right away is
because if you appeal within fifteen days, you can keep
your SNAP on.
Speaker 7 (29:09):
While the appeal is pending. Folks are going to have ninety.
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Days to appeal, so there's a big appeal window, but
you got to get that appeal within the first fifteen
days in order to keep your SNAP turned on while
the appeal is pending. I will say that we there
has been delay in some of the notices from the
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services over the course of the
last few weeks.
Speaker 7 (29:31):
So if people are getting.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
Notices after the appeal deadline or close to the appeal deadline,
I'd urge you to appeal anyway given these notice issues.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Right, and I think the other message here is to
open your mail, because so often when things do come
via mail these days, people are kind of out of
the habit I think of paying attention to mail because
there's usually so much junk that comes in and such,
it's so very easy for a notice like that to
be overlooked and then sitting on somebody you know, front table,
(30:01):
and then the deadline comes and goes. So please everybody
check your mail, open that notice, make sure that you
are fully in the loop in terms of where your
SNAP benefits are now, where can listeners go for help
right now if they're confused, worried about losing benefits or
need legal assistance navigating these snap changes.
Speaker 6 (30:23):
Well, if folks are confused and what more information, our
website has a lot of information at clsphila dorg backslash
snap changes, so that clsphila dot org backslash snap changes
if you're having a problem.
Speaker 7 (30:39):
With your SNAP.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
We have intake three days a week for people who
have problems with their public benefits at Community Legal Services.
So we have intake in person on Mondays and Wednesdays
from nine to noon at our North Philadelphia office at
fourteen ten West Erie Avenue, And we also take phone
calls on Thursdays from nine to noon. And our number
is two one five nine eight one three seven zero zero.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And what is the website?
Speaker 6 (31:05):
It is clsphi La dot org so clspilla dot org.
And if you do backslash Snap changes, you get right
to our information about Snap. Our intake is going to
be closed over the holidays starting next Wednesday until January fifth,
So I'd urge you to give us a call this
week or early next.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Week if you can any final thoughts or words about
what these changes mean for as you mentioned the two
million people that are currently on Snap, what are your
thoughts about what the impact of this change is going
to have on people.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
There's been a lot of confusion and honestly chaos lately
around public benefits programs, and particularly with Snap. We had
delayed Snap due to the shutdown. There's been a lot
of sort of uncertainty. So my words would be that
Snap is still there and people who are eligible first
NAP should absolutely take advantage of it if they're dealing
(32:05):
with problems with these work requirements. Almost everyone is going
to be able to prove exemption or compliance. It's just
a matter of raising your hand and getting that communication
through to the County Assistants office. So and if you
need help, Community Legal Services is here. So I would
urge people not to lose faith. The SNAP continues to
be just the most important tool we have to fight
(32:28):
hunger in Pennsylvania and our country, and I urge folks
to take advantage of it, even though it can feel
like there's just been a lot of attacks on the
program lately.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Well, we are very grateful that Community Legal Services is
there and available to provide support and information on how
to retain your SNAP benefits. Now more than ever, it's
very important to utilize all the resources that are available,
and thank goodness that Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is
(32:59):
right there to provide that support. Lynn Gottisfeld, Managing Attorney
in the Health and Independence Unit at Community Legal Services
of Philadelphia, thank you so much.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
You can listen to all of today's interviews by going
to our station website and typing in keyword Community. You
can also listen on the iHeartRadio app ye Words Philadelphia
Community Podcast. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard.
I'm Lorraine Ballard morel and I stand for service to
our community and media that empowers. What will you stand for?
(33:32):
You've been listening to insight and thank you
Good morning. You're listening to Insight, a show about empowering
our community. I'm Lorraine Ballad Morrell. Today we're talking about
important legislation passed by Congress that could result in snap
benefits ending for countless individuals and families. In just a
few minutes, will be joined by Community Legal Services to
break down what this means and who may be impacted
(00:20):
and what steps you can take to protect your benefits.
But first, we want to highlight two wonderful holiday events
that reflect the power of community. A toy and winter
clothing giveaway from a foundation founded by former Philadelphia Eagle
and Super Bowl champion Rodney McLeod with his wife Erica,
showing what it truly means to show up for our
neighbors when it matters the most. But first we start
(00:42):
in Bridgeton, New Jersey with a community centered holiday event
making a real difference for families. All right, we've got
Tony Hill, who is owner of Games on the Go
Mobile entertainment and the nonprofit Keeping Young Minds Occupied Foundation. Tony,
you've got an event. Give us all the details.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
From December twenty third, Miss Low, we have our annual
Gifts and Kicks giveaway going down. We're going to be
at forty East Commerce Street at Hope Law. Our time
is going to be five pm to eight pm. So
again we'll be at Hope Law from five pm to
eight pm doing our annual Gifts and Kicks holiday giveaway.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So you're going to be giving away toys and kicks.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Right, yes, fresh kicks.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
That's the only kind. You've got a lot of sponsors,
so give them a shout out.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Bridgton Police Department, the Bridgton You Easy your Fuel Sports,
Durint Flying First Class Equestrian Center, Start and Start Orbit
Building Materials, Carmelo's Hope Laws Games on the Go, Shears Barbershop,
o Haansig View, Briton Area Chamber of Commerce, Epic Elevations,
Life Worth Living and High Heart.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
If people want more information, where do they go?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
They can contact me at eight five six five zero
zero forty two forty two.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Well, thank you and thanks for all that you're doing
for our community.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Thank you so much, Yes, ma'am, thank you.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Former Philadelphia Eagle Rodney McLeod and his wife Erica are
continuing their commitment to giving back through their nonprofit Change
Our Future. This holiday season, they're expanding their impact in
a big way, adopting ten families and providing two hundred
and fifty Philadelphia children with winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, toys,
and food to take home. We're excited to talk with
(02:28):
Rodney about the mission behind Change Our Future and the
upcoming holiday giveaway on December twenty second at Furness High School. Rodney,
so great to see you and all the great things
that you're doing. I wonder if you can kind of
tell us a little bit of the backstory about why
you and Erica, your wife, decided to come up with
(02:49):
this nonprofit, Change Our Future. Most of us know you
from the Eagles, but we also are more and more
knowing you about the great commitment that you've made to
our community. So tell us a little bit about the
origin story of Change our Future.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, happy holidays to you, but I honestly Change our Future.
You know, it was really birth because of the passion
for kids that that Eric and I both possess and
wanting to you know, create a pathway of opportunity, of
access of resources for you know, a lot of kids
(03:28):
that look like Eric and I and recognizing a lot
of the challenges that many of those individuals face, particularly
when it comes to the access of education. You know,
a lot is determined by your zip code, and so
you know, wanted to kind of breed be a bridge,
you know, for a lot of these kids, to give
(03:50):
them exposure, to give them different experiences that would help
propel them throughout their life and introduce them to you know,
many of possibilities that live outside their doorstep that they,
you know, may have never thought of or even imagine.
And it's been a blessing just to stand alongside a
ton of youth recognizing that they are our future. If
(04:13):
we want to really you know, seek change, it is
through the minds and shoulders of.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Our next generation. And that's been our mission.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
And so it's been incredible just to see you know,
as many kids if we've impacted and looking to continue
to impact a lot more going forward.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Well, the Holiday Giveaway is a major expansion, supporting ten
full families and two hundred and fifty kids with winter essentials, toys,
and food. Why was it important to scale up the
impact this year?
Speaker 3 (04:46):
It was important for us to scale up because of
just the times that we're facing right now, you know it.
Christmas is the favorite holiday for Eric she goes above
and beyond in our own household, and so, you know,
we wanted to really bring the holiday cheer to the community.
(05:08):
And you know, we've been hosting this initiative for the
past five years, going on year six now, and it's
just very moving when you hear the stories of a
ton of families what they're going through and facing and
we want to you know, be a symbol of hope,
of possibility, and that's what this event activates, you know,
(05:32):
when we bring out all of these families and we
make you know, their dreams come true. Just for this
moment is incredible and it really just puts you know,
life in perspective, you know, for not only us, but
a ton of people who come out and volunteer. And
so not only are we going to help you know,
(05:53):
ten special families that are experiencing a wide variety of
different crisis right now, but we're going to support two
hundred and fifty kids in the community by providing them
with the opportunity to you know, get a toy, a coat,
a meal. And again, the holidays are just so you know,
(06:16):
stressful as is, and so for us to kind of
lighten that load, take the burden off just for a day,
a couple of minutes is a rewarding feeling, and I
know a ton of it blesses a ton of people
because of it.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Well, we're going to get into the specifics about the
event and how people can participate, but let's let's catch
people up to where you've been these days, because we
were just chatting before we started this interview, and it
looks like you're moving into that sports broadcast space. Tell
us all the things you're doing. It's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, So the past few months, I've been on the
journey of of being a actual broadcaster color commentary calling
college games for a SEC network under the Goddess of ESPN,
and it's it's been a great year as far.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
You know, I've learned a lot.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
I've grown in a ton of spaces, and you know,
you leave a space of mastery and kind of go
into now a position of inexperience and you have to
kind of reinvent yourself and relearn what that feels like again.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
But it's been rewarding for me.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
I've really just embraced every moment of it, and it's incredible.
Just shine and light on this next generation of talent
of college athletes, giving my perspective and teaching the game,
you know, in the best way that I know how
for a lot of viewers out there.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Well, of course, since you are for Eagle and you
are a sports commentator, I have to ask you about
the current Eagles team. And I know maybe there's certain
things you can't say, but the Eagles, it's it's a
roller coaster ride. Oh my god, I think you know,
they break our hearts and then they make our hearts
(08:13):
explode with joy. What's going on? It's been such an
up and down season for the Eagles this year.
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, I feel like pretty pretty Eagles. You know, they're
facing you know, Super Bowl hangover. I guess you would
call it. But I think the main thing, you know,
is injuries that have played this team this year, particularly
on the offensiveloone side. I think that's really hindered their
ability to run the football effectively, you know, keep kind
(08:45):
of a Jalen protected and not under durest like. I
think all those things have contributed to some of the
struggles offensively both. I think on the encouraging side has
been the defense. I mean, I'm a defensive guy. That's
what I made my living. And when you have a
defense plan at the at the level that they are,
(09:07):
you still are capable of making all of your dreams happen,
you know, which for them is another super Bowl. So
you know, I believe it's they have to kind of
reshape you know, their identity a little bit. And and
maybe you know, all of us were thinking that the
offense is going to lead this team, but it's actually
a defense driving it.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
And so that's not there's nothing bad about that.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
I think they just have to they have to really
commit to it and figure out ways for them offensively
to not lose the game kind of you know, come
in with a different approach. But I believe they'll they'll
be fine. They got some pick me up games coming
up down this stretch, you know, that started last week
to kind of get back in their groove.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, they did crush last week. That was pretty pretty awesome.
And then my final question before we get into the
specifics of the giveaway is just what life is like
after after playing football. That's such an intense career to have.
The highs are incredible, the lows can be devastating, and
(10:08):
then the impact on your body is so extreme. I
think you are fortunate and you kind of got out
while your body was still more or less intact. Right,
So tell us a little bit about what it's like
to be, you know, past the professional football career that
you've had. I mean, you've certainly expanded into the community
space and now into the broadcasting space. But tell us
(10:31):
what that transition is like, and also maybe how hard
it is for some other players to move from playing
to not playing.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Yeah, life had the football is different. It does come
with a challenge.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
And the challenge is, you know, you now have you
don't have your days mapped out for you.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
You know, you now have to be your own CEO,
your own.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
General manager, coordinator, you know, all those positions that we're
accustomed to and driving us on a regular occasion on
when we should show up or how we should show up.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
You know, you're now tasked with that.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
And I think you know, God's biggest struggle is the
idle time is how do I utilize the time, the
free time that I have and figuring out what their
next passion or interest is like, how they want to
show up in the world and still feel a sense
of purpose and drive and you know, all those feelings
(11:30):
that come about when you play ball. You know, a
lot of us have been doing this since we were kids,
you know, for me six years old, so football has
been a part of my life for as long as
I can remember. And you know, there are a lot
of guys that choose to wipe out football from their lives.
There are some of us, you know, like myself, that
(11:54):
still need to be around the game in some capacity,
and then there are a ton of others that.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Are kind of you know, in limbo and which direction.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
So I think the like the toughest part is is
the scheduling and finding your purpose and the quicker you know,
guys can really adapt to the new norm.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
It really is beneficial for them.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I know, for me, I've always taken that that off
season to you know, kind of switch gears and put
on a different hat so that you know, I didn't
let toime just pass me by.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
I still was productive.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
I still felt like I was working towards something, and
a lot of that was the nonprofit, uh, you know,
change our future. You know, it keeps me up just
as just as much as as ball died, because it
is so intense and in my role and you know,
trying to you know, leave your mark on this world
in a positive manner on the way that we're doing.
(12:51):
And so outside of that, it was, you know, doing
things like this, getting reps in the broadcast field. The
transition has been easier, but I'm not saying that my
transition is done because I'm still trying to discover what
I actually want to do, how i want to show
up in the world. So I'm still evolving myself. I'm
(13:11):
still in it. I'm fresh, but just embracing every day.
And then on the other side, it allows you to
spend a lot of time with family, so, you know,
a lot of the lost time that I didn't get,
I actually can I have a holiday that I can
spend time with my wife and my daughter, visit family.
You know, we're actually going to Maryland this weekend and
then New York for Christmas. So those moments right there
(13:35):
really are fulfilling and fill my cup because I've been
yearning for that for a very long time and it
was one of the reasons why I did choose to
walk away.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Yeah, well, You've done a great job at designing your
post football career, and certainly part of that is change
our future and this event that's happening this holiday giveaway
on December twenty second at Furnace High School. Give us
some of the details and who can participate? Is can
anyone come and take advantage of this? Do they need to direct?
(14:06):
Tell us all the details.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Yeah, so we're very excited.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
You know, this is the sixth annual Philo card is
looking completely different. You know, you're now walking into Change
our Futures, Christmas Shop Winter Wonderland Field and we'll be
hosting it at Furness High School four thirty to six thirty.
We'll be supplying coats, toys, hats and also food. You know,
we're aiming to serve two hundred and fifty kids. It
(14:32):
is first come, first serve. You're entered through the cafeteria.
You'll get a ticket voucher for each item you'll walk through,
be able to collect those items.
Speaker 4 (14:41):
And man, we'll have a great time.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
You know, iHeart to be there roxy and be there
on great music, some good holiday cheer in spirit, just
to get everybody in that mood for Christmas and just
a celebration of just life, just thankfulness and community. Because
we'll have a ton of volunteers there that are helping
support and we can't do it without the shoulders and
(15:05):
arms of those that support us.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So Rodney, I know that you can't do this alone.
You and Erica have a lot of great supporters. Who
are they?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
Yes, so some of our supporters that have graciously linked
arms with us.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
It takes a village.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
They address a lot of food and securities here in
the Philadelphia community. They'll be providing food for families, which
is incredible. And then we've also partnered with Toys for
Tots that will be giving us a number of just
amazing toys for our children for them to come out
and pick up an item, a toy their choice. So
(15:43):
we're extremely grateful for the community support and what they're
doing to make a difference in the kid's life.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
Fantastic. So if people want more information about not only
this particular event which is happening on the twenty second
at Furness High School starting at four thirty is that right?
Four thirty?
Speaker 2 (16:03):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Thirty, Yeah, four thirty to six thirty. Man, first come,
first served, Get there early the minute, get there, get
there early as you can bundle up.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
You know, there could be a line. We used to
the code. So I think it'll be maybe a little warmer.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Day than what we've experienced the past couple of days,
So just come out. We're looking forward to seeing everybody
having a great time and you know, just providing some holidays.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Chere fantastic and what's your website for more information?
Speaker 3 (16:31):
Website is Changeourfuture dot org and then Instagram is Changed
our Future Fund. You'll find all the details about the
event coming up on December twenty second, and all the
other great programs and activities we have coming up.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Wonderful former Philadelphia Eagle Rodney McLeod who, along with his
wife Erica, are continuing their commitment to giving back through
their nonprofit Change Our Future, and this holiday season they
are doing a major holiday give way on December twenty
second at Furness High School. Rodney, thank you for all
that you do, you and Erica, and the best of
(17:07):
luck in your new direction on the media. And hopefully
one day we'll see you on Monday Night football. You
never know, right, I love forward to it.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
That is great, Thank you so much. Today we're joined
by Lydia Gottisfeld, a Managing attorney in the Health and
Independence Unit at Community Legal.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Services of Philadelphia. She works with residents navigating public benefits
and health related legal issues. She's here to break down
important changes to SNAP that took effect on September first,
and what Philadelphians need to know to protect their food assistance. Well,
thank you so much for joining us here today. And
I just have to hearken back to my early twenties.
(17:53):
I was just out of college, I had four roommates,
I was making barely minimum wage, and I actually applied
for food stamps, and I have to tell you that
the process was so confusing and so onerous that I
gave up. And so I can't even begin to imagine
the obstacles that people must face when applying for SNAP benefits.
(18:16):
But now with the additional changes to SNAP benefits, then
that puts you into a whole new category of oh darn.
So let's start with the basics. What changed with SNAP
work requirements on September first, and who is most affected
by these new rules.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
Well, Laurene, thanks for having me today. On September one,
SNAP work requirements went into effect in Philadelphia. They had
not been in effect before, and in most of Pennsylvania now,
the SNAP program has long had work requirements but it
also always had a way for certain places to be
(18:57):
accepted from the work requirements because of the unemploy rate,
and that went away or was made much harder when
HR one passed and became a law in July. And
so because of that, now all of Pennsylvania is going
to have to have these work requirements and that rolled
out starting September first. So this is really the first
(19:18):
time Philadelphians have ever been subject to these work requirements.
And what they are is that somebody either has to
be found to be complying with the work requirements or
exempt from the work requirements in order to keep their Snap.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
For longer than three months.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
If you're not complying with them and you're not exempt
from them, then you only get snapped for three months.
It's called a time limit, a time limit on the
amount of Snap you can get.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Okay, so we'll talk a little bit more and unpack
that in just a minute. But many people are hearing
that they may only qualify for Snap for three months,
as you mentioned, every three years, can you explain what
does that actually mean in real world terms?
Speaker 6 (20:01):
So, in real world terms, what that means is that
if you don't raise your hand and say hey, I
meet an exemption or hey I'm working and you don't already.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
Know about it.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
Then after three months of getting SNAP, you meet your
SNAP in September, October, in theory November, but November didn't count,
so December, and then you get a notice that says
you're going to lose your Snap. Your Snap will end.
And then people you know into the next month that
don't have SNAP unless they're able to show that they
(20:34):
meet the requirements, which many, many, many people do.
Speaker 1 (20:37):
Before we get into talking about the exemptions and ways
to navigate this new series of rules, let's talk about
who gets SNAP, because I think there's a certain preconception
that people have that may not be accurate. So who
is actually receiving SNAP?
Speaker 6 (20:57):
Well, for starters, there's two million people in the state
of Pennsylvania who are receiving SNAP.
Speaker 7 (21:02):
So these are many people in our communities.
Speaker 6 (21:05):
And what we see at Community Legal Services is families
with children where many times the parents are working, but
with the wages that are available to folks, that SNAP
is really important to supplement and come.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
To put food on the table for the family. So
we see working.
Speaker 6 (21:23):
Families a lot, many many seniors right, and most of
those seniors won't be subject to the work requirements, but
lots of folks who are on fixed incomes, people with disabilities,
seniors who really need that.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Extra support to afford food.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
But really, people who receive SNAP run the gamut. We
see young people like you once were, who were struggling
to get their footing and may you know, fall out
of work for a few months and need something to
help bridge the gap to maintain stability in their lives.
We see people who who who get sick, who have
an injury, and they're just scrambling to pay all their bills,
(22:01):
and SNAP can be a key piece of the puzzle.
Speaker 1 (22:05):
You've said that many adults actually qualify for exemption, So
what are some of the most common exemptions that people
may not realize that apply to them.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I should start by saying that not everybody who
receives SNAP is even subject to these work requirements to
begin with. So if you're over, if you're sixty five
and older, you don't have to worry about these work requirements.
If you're eighteen and younger, you don't have to worry
about these work currents. I mean, if you're younger than eighteen,
So people who are age eighteen to sixty four are
(22:35):
going to be subject to these work requirements unless they're
receiving disability related benefit like Disability Insurance SSI, veterans Disability benefit,
home and community based services. You know, those sorts of
folks are going to be pulled out of this pool
of folks who are subject to it. And the other
big group that's going to be pulled out is households that.
Speaker 7 (22:58):
Have children under the age of fourteen.
Speaker 6 (23:01):
So all of those folks shouldn't have to do anything.
They're just not going to have to deal with the
paperwork or the notices. But for everyone else, you should
be thinking about what are the exemptions and do I
qualify if you know, if I'm not working to meet
those requirements. And here's the big ones that we see
for our clients. Caregivers, okay, caregivers for an elderly or
(23:24):
disabled individual.
Speaker 7 (23:25):
That individual doesn't have to be in your household.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
A lot a lot of people are caregiving out there, right.
We see this for people who have older children teenagers.
Maybe you know they're over that age fourteen, but they
have autism or some other condition that requires a lot
of care from the parent right, those households are going
to be exempt, that caregiver's going to be exempt, and
people who are caring for parents, people are caring for
(23:50):
a disabled family member. You know, this one comes up
a lot other exemptions, pregnancity, applying for or receiving unemployment compensation,
being in school or job training program. That's a big
one again for that sort of transition age youth that
I talked about who are often seeking SNAP. And then
(24:10):
the other really big one that we talked about with
folks is if you have a medical condition that reduces
your ability to work. So this is not folks who
are necessarily already on disability, but you have something that
just makes it a little bit more difficult to work,
that maybe results in your having.
Speaker 7 (24:27):
Uneven work or what have you.
Speaker 6 (24:30):
For that one, folks are going to have to get
a form signed by their medical provider. But the standard
is what I said, a condition that reduces your ability
to work. It doesn't mean you're permanently disabled, it doesn't
mean you can't work at all.
Speaker 7 (24:43):
It's a condition that reduces your ability to work.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
And frankly, there's a lot of folks who are receiving
STAP who are dealing with long term, chronic conditions that
make it hard to hold down like a steady job
all the time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
If someone does not meet an exemption or comply with
work requirements, tell us walk us through what happens to
their SNAP benefits and how long could they lose assistance.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
So, if you haven't shown that you're compliant or exempt
from the work requirements, you will get a notice it
says that you're going to lose your SNAP.
Speaker 7 (25:14):
The reason listen on.
Speaker 6 (25:15):
The notice is because of the time limit. That's what
that says, time limit. It means work requirements. What we're
urging folks to do is appeal those notices. If you
appeal within fifteen days on the date of the notice,
you can keep your SNAP while the appeals pending and
use that time all the appeals pending to get the
County Assistants Office information about either how you're exempt, or
(25:40):
whether you are working or volunteering or in a job
training program, and otherwise showing that you're complying with the
work requirement and if you're not, if you don't appeal,
then you will lose your SNAP on the date that
it says on the notice. If you do appeal. You
can work with the County Assistant's office, let them know
about your exempt status, let them know about your compliant status,
(26:02):
and they if they receive that information from you, they
should be able to approve your SNAP moving forward. If
they don't and you lose your SNAP, you're not eligible
to apply for SNAP again until this three year period,
in which would be December twenty to twenty six, unless
you become exempt or compliant from the work requirements. Okay,
(26:25):
so it's three the titlement is three months and three years.
Speaker 7 (26:29):
But you can always raise your hand and say I'm exempt,
I'm complying, and get back on right.
Speaker 6 (26:36):
It's only that three months and three years if you're
just not exempted, not complying.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Gotcha. What should immigrants with green cards know about these
changes and why is it so important that they report
their status to the County Assistant's office.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
Another change created by HR one was to change the
immigrant eligibility rules for SNAP and for Medicaid that the
Medicaid aren't in affect you. It's really important for green
card holders to let the County assistants know that the
countiestse offus know they have green cards, because if they don't,
(27:11):
they will very likely lose their SNAP at their next renewal.
Before the HR one changes past certain non citizen statuses,
people with certain non citizen statuses could access SNAP, Refugees, Assi, les,
a few others. Many of those folks are on a
(27:32):
path to a green card, and so it's really important
that they let the County Assistant of US know that
they actually have that green card if they do right,
so that they don't phase cut off at their next renewal.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
There's got to be a certain reluctance to do exactly
that because of the current climate and people being so
scared to check in with various government agencies for fear
they might be swept up by eye. So what would
you say to those folks.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
Well, if you're receiving benefits from the Department of Human
Services in Pennsylvania, they already have your information, they know
who you are. I think submitting your green card to
them doesn't change anything from that perspective. The only thing
that does that enables you to keep SNAP. And the
other thing I would say is for folks receiving SNAP,
Pennsylvania is one of the states that's involved in litigation
(28:26):
to prevent people's SNAP data to be used for the
purpose of immigration enforcement, so that's not currently happening at
this time when it comes to SNAP.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Okay, that's good to know. You've warned people to watch
closely for SNAP termination notices. If someone receives one, what
can they do immediately to protect their rights?
Speaker 6 (28:48):
Well, we urge them to contact the County Assistant's office
and appeal the decision. This gives them time to sort
out one of the exemptions. Am I exempt? Do they
have my work information? And hold on to their SNAP?
And the reason it's important to appeal right away is
because if you appeal within fifteen days, you can keep
your SNAP on.
Speaker 7 (29:09):
While the appeal is pending. Folks are going to have ninety.
Speaker 6 (29:12):
Days to appeal, so there's a big appeal window, but
you got to get that appeal within the first fifteen
days in order to keep your SNAP turned on while
the appeal is pending. I will say that we there
has been delay in some of the notices from the
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services over the course of the
last few weeks.
Speaker 7 (29:31):
So if people are getting.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
Notices after the appeal deadline or close to the appeal deadline,
I'd urge you to appeal anyway given these notice issues.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Right, and I think the other message here is to
open your mail, because so often when things do come
via mail these days, people are kind of out of
the habit I think of paying attention to mail because
there's usually so much junk that comes in and such,
it's so very easy for a notice like that to
be overlooked and then sitting on somebody you know, front table,
(30:01):
and then the deadline comes and goes. So please everybody
check your mail, open that notice, make sure that you
are fully in the loop in terms of where your
SNAP benefits are now, where can listeners go for help
right now if they're confused, worried about losing benefits or
need legal assistance navigating these snap changes.
Speaker 6 (30:23):
Well, if folks are confused and what more information, our
website has a lot of information at clsphila dorg backslash
snap changes, so that clsphila dot org backslash snap changes
if you're having a problem.
Speaker 7 (30:39):
With your SNAP.
Speaker 6 (30:40):
We have intake three days a week for people who
have problems with their public benefits at Community Legal Services.
So we have intake in person on Mondays and Wednesdays
from nine to noon at our North Philadelphia office at
fourteen ten West Erie Avenue, And we also take phone
calls on Thursdays from nine to noon. And our number
is two one five nine eight one three seven zero zero.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And what is the website?
Speaker 6 (31:05):
It is clsphi La dot org so clspilla dot org.
And if you do backslash Snap changes, you get right
to our information about Snap. Our intake is going to
be closed over the holidays starting next Wednesday until January fifth,
So I'd urge you to give us a call this
week or early next.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Week if you can any final thoughts or words about
what these changes mean for as you mentioned the two
million people that are currently on Snap, what are your
thoughts about what the impact of this change is going
to have on people.
Speaker 6 (31:43):
There's been a lot of confusion and honestly chaos lately
around public benefits programs, and particularly with Snap. We had
delayed Snap due to the shutdown. There's been a lot
of sort of uncertainty. So my words would be that
Snap is still there and people who are eligible first
NAP should absolutely take advantage of it if they're dealing
(32:05):
with problems with these work requirements. Almost everyone is going
to be able to prove exemption or compliance. It's just
a matter of raising your hand and getting that communication
through to the County Assistants office. So and if you
need help, Community Legal Services is here. So I would
urge people not to lose faith. The SNAP continues to
be just the most important tool we have to fight
(32:28):
hunger in Pennsylvania and our country, and I urge folks
to take advantage of it, even though it can feel
like there's just been a lot of attacks on the
program lately.
Speaker 2 (32:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Well, we are very grateful that Community Legal Services is
there and available to provide support and information on how
to retain your SNAP benefits. Now more than ever, it's
very important to utilize all the resources that are available,
and thank goodness that Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is
(32:59):
right there to provide that support. Lynn Gottisfeld, Managing Attorney
in the Health and Independence Unit at Community Legal Services
of Philadelphia, thank you so much.
Speaker 7 (33:10):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
You can listen to all of today's interviews by going
to our station website and typing in keyword Community. You
can also listen on the iHeartRadio app ye Words Philadelphia
Community Podcast. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at Lorraine Ballard.
I'm Lorraine Ballard morel and I stand for service to
our community and media that empowers. What will you stand for?
(33:32):
You've been listening to insight and thank you
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