HARRISBURG — The administration of Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday said it is relaxing the guidelines of an asset test it wants to impose on people seeking food stamps, although critics remained adamant that carrying out any such test could pile work onto overburdened case workers and create delays for people who need help.

The change came three weeks after The Philadelphia Inquirer revealed that the Republican administration, without any public announcement, had told the federal government that it would impose an asset test that critics said met the most stringent limits allowed by federal law. The move brought harsh criticism from Democrats and advocates for the poor.

Under the revised plan, a household must have no more than $5,500 in eligible assets, and the limit is $9,000 for a household with an elderly or disabled member. Like most other states, Pennsylvania currently has no asset test, but the income limit of 160 percent or less of the federal poverty level — or about $35,300 for a family of four — would continue to apply.

“The asset test ensures every public dollar we have goes directly to those who need it most,” state Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander said.

It would go into effect May 1.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged states to review their food stamp guidelines after a Michigan man continued to accept food stamps, legally, even after he won about $850,000 in a state lottery game.

Assets subject to the test include cash, checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, saving certificates, personal property, boats, aircraft and all-terrain vehicles.

The list of exempt assets includes a car and home, life insurance and pension plans, family savings accounts.