An estimated 150,000 Tennesseans could lose food stamp benefits on April 1 if they don’t meet work requirements that were waived for several years because of the Great Recession.

The program requires able-bodied adults ages 18 through 49 who have no children or other dependents at home to work, volunteer or attend education or job-training courses at least 80 hours a month. If they don’t, their benefits are cut off after three months.

The work requirement was waived during the recession but the waiver ended in at least 21 states, including Tennessee, on Jan. 1. That triggered the three-month limit for recipients to comply with work requirements. If they don’t, they lose their food stamps on April 1.

Officials at several social services agencies in Tennessee said they either weren’t aware of the change or didn’t know whether they had clients who would be affected.