Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration rolled out a new program on Friday aimed at helping Pennsylvanians who rely on food assistance connect to job training and employment supports. The announcement, made at the Community College of Philadelphia's Spring Garden campus, was framed as a way to help recipients keep up with tightened federal work and reporting rules. State leaders said the effort will lean on local colleges, workforce boards and employers to expand options for SNAP participants.
Shapiro administration officials described the new push as a slate of employment and training opportunities designed to help SNAP recipients preserve their benefits while building long-term careers, as reported by 6abc. The program is intended to cut through some of the barriers that can keep people from meeting new activity and verification standards tied to benefit eligibility.
State Launches 'Qualifying Work' Certification
State documents show the administration has opened a formal process to certify outside programs that can count toward SNAP work requirements. As outlined in a Pennsylvania workforce briefing on PA.gov, Gov. Shapiro authorized the Department of Human Services to identify and certify job-training and education programs, and that certification process officially launched on February 18, 2026.
Providers can submit a short eight-question application for review. The briefing notes that qualifying programs must offer services such as technical-skill training, work experience, soft-skills development or community service, and it provides an email contact for questions.
Federal Changes Pushed States To Act
Federal policy changes enacted in 2025 tightened verification rules and expanded the pool of SNAP participants who are subject to work or training requirements, prompting states to scale up employment and training options. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has been issuing guidance and resources to help states document activities that satisfy the work rules, according to the agency's SNAP work-requirements page.
Community Colleges And KEYS
Community colleges already play a central role in Pennsylvania’s SNAP employment and training network through the KEYS (Keystone Education Yields Success) program, which links SNAP and TANF recipients to college courses and supports such as childcare, transportation and textbook assistance. That existing setup makes institutions like the Community College of Philadelphia natural partners for the new expansion, according to ACCT Perspectives.
How To Find Help
State officials and community partners say SNAP recipients should turn to DHS resources and screening tools to figure out whether the new rules apply to them and what activities will qualify. Pennsylvania's outreach includes an online screening tool and guidance to contact local County Assistance Offices for help with reporting and enrolling in training, as noted by Trying Together.
Legal Pressure And Uncertainty
The federal changes have prompted lawsuits and legal challenges that have at times shifted timelines, waivers and implementation details, which has added uncertainty for recipients and administrators alike. Legal trackers and court filings show a patchwork of actions that state agencies are monitoring as they design and roll out local programs, according to coverage of the ongoing litigation.
Officials say the state will continue to add approved providers and host local enrollment events as the certification process unfolds, and residents should keep an eye on DHS and community college websites for specific opportunities. For now, state leaders say the program is meant to give people both the documented activities and the supports they need to keep receiving food assistance while they train for new jobs.
