PA streamlines Job Training Certification for SNAP recipients

The Shapiro Administration announced a new program to make it easier for education and training centers to help people who receive SNAP benefits meet necessary work and reporting requirements so they can continue to provide food for themselves and their families.

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Under this new program, centers that haven't been certified to work with SNAP recipients can now apply for a quicker certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS). This will increase the number of training options available across Pennsylvania, allowing SNAP recipients to access important education and job training programs that can help them find work, in line with federal rules introduced in July 2025.

In the past, it was difficult for training centers to obtain DHS certification. This new approach will simplify the process, ensuring more people in Pennsylvania have access to the resources they need to stay fed.

DHS Office of Income Maintenance Deputy Secretary Hoa Pham and Department of Labor & Industry Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development Patricia Blumenauer recently visited the Community College of Philadelphia to talk with students and college leaders about how nutrition assistance programs, like SNAP, support their education and career training while helping them meet their basic needs.

Every month, nearly two million people in Pennsylvania rely on SNAP for food assistance.

“This support helps individuals and families put food on the table, which allows them to attend school, work, and live healthy lives with dignity,” said Deputy Secretary Pham.