If you're an adult without dependents then food stamps last for three months. After that you're required to work or be in a work training program for 20 hours a week. There are some areas that provide some small concessions to this three month limit but most places do not. You also don't qualify if you're an unauthorized immigrants, or a certain type of lawfully present immigrant. Also don't qualify if you're on strike but their unions should be covering them if it's that drastic.

It is literally: work in our system or starve. There is no free food unless you're doing something 20 hours a week that has government oversight (i.e. tax forms).