NEW ORLEANS - Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is being sued over work requirements enacted for more than 60,000 food stamp recipients that take effect with the new year.

The federal lawsuit was filed Friday in New Orleans by advocacy groups on behalf of seven food stamp recipients who are threatened with losing the aid. They are seeking to stop the new requirements and are asking to get the case certified as a class-action lawsuit.

The Jindal administration let a federal waiver of work requirements expire on Oct. 1. Adults aged 18 to 49 without children will soon have to work at least 20 hours per week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to receive food stamps. 

Jindal spokesman Mike Reed says the changes seek to "break the cycle of poverty."