Changes to Food Stamp Program SNAP Coming in November
Sweeping changes to the federal food stamp program — formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — will begin taking effect this November under the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The reforms, which cut $187 billion in federal SNAP funding through 2034, represent one of the largest structural shifts to food assistance in decades.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), these updates will alter eligibility rules, expand work requirements, and transfer more administrative costs to state governments. Roughly 2.4 million Americans are expected to lose SNAP benefits in an average month once the changes are fully implemented.
Expanded Work Requirements
Under the new law, SNAP recipients will still need to work at least 80 hours per month to continue receiving benefits beyond three months in any three-year period. However, the age range for this requirement has expanded significantly.
Previously, the work rule applied to adults aged 18 to 54. Now it will extend up to age 64, effectively adding an entire decade’s worth of recipients to the mandate.
There are exceptions for individuals unable to work due to physical or mental limitations. But key exemptions that once shielded certain groups have been rolled back.
Parents with dependent children, for instance, were previously exempt from work rules if their children were minors. Under the new framework, only parents with dependents aged 13 or younger will qualify for that exemption.
The bill also removes work requirement exemptions for people who are homeless, veterans, and young adults (24 and under) who aged out of foster care — all of whom were previously protected categories.
States may still apply for waivers from the federal government if their local unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent. Alaska and Hawaii receive automatic waivers when unemployment in those states rises to 150 percent or more of the national average.
The law went into effect on July 4, but states have 120 days to implement the new rules.
Cuts in Participation
According to the CBO, these stricter requirements will result in an estimated 2.4 million fewer SNAP participants per month between now and 2034. While the new law adds some flexibility for tribal communities — increasing participation among Native Americans through new exemptions — the overall number of households receiving benefits will decline sharply.
Currently, about 41 million Americans depend on SNAP in a given month.
Immigrant Eligibility Tightened
The legislation also dramatically changes who qualifies for benefits based on immigration status. The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 had allowed limited participation by non-citizens under specific conditions, including those granted legal residence before 1948, individuals with parole status, and those deemed “non-deportable” by federal authorities.Groceries
The new bill eliminates those exceptions entirely.
Under the revised rules, only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) will qualify for food assistance — with few exceptions. This means that thousands of previously eligible immigrants, including those under humanitarian parole or with long-term residency, will lose access to SNAP.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) criticized the change, saying it “eliminates benefits for many undocumented or humanitarian-status immigrants who previously qualified due to their status or long U.S. residency.”
The White House, however, defended the decision, saying the update ensures that taxpayer funds serve citizens and legal residents only.
“Illegals burden taxpayers with billions in costs for free health care and welfare benefits,” a White House statement read. “The One Big Beautiful Bill ends Medicaid and SNAP fraud and ensures these programs serve only eligible Americans.”
The CBO estimates that about 90,000 people per month will lose SNAP eligibility as a result of the tightened immigration criteria.Buy vitamins and supplements
Changes to the Thrifty Food Plan
SNAP benefits are based on the Thrifty Food Plan — a federal measure that estimates how much it costs to provide a healthy diet for a typical family of four. The Department of Agriculture last revised this plan in 2021, increasing benefits substantially.
The new legislation, however, freezes major updates to the Thrifty Food Plan until at least October 1, 2027, and mandates that future revisions must be cost-neutral — meaning that updates cannot increase the total benefit amount.
Annual cost-of-living adjustments will continue but will now be capped based on household size. For example, a five-person household in most states recently saw its maximum monthly allotment rise from $1,158 to $1,183 — a smaller increase than in previous years.
The law also standardizes costs across households, removing prior flexibility that allowed for regional or demographic differences.
Shifting Costs to States
Beyond individual eligibility changes, the One Big Beautiful Bill significantly alters how the federal and state governments share administrative costs.
Currently, the federal government reimburses states for 50 percent of the costs of running SNAP. Beginning in fiscal year 2027 — which starts October 1, 2026 — that reimbursement rate will drop to 25 percent.
This shift will force states to shoulder a much larger share of program administration expenses. For large states like Florida, that means tens of millions of dollars in new costs.
According to Bridget Royster, assistant secretary for Florida’s Department of Children and Families, the reduction in federal support will cost Florida approximately $50.6 million per year.
Another provision penalizes states with high error rates in benefit payments. If a state’s payment error rate — meaning overpayments, underpayments, or benefits issued to ineligible recipients — exceeds six percent, it will now be required to share in the financial penalties.
Only nine states had error rates below six percent in fiscal year 2024. Historically, nearly every state has exceeded that threshold at some point between 2003 and 2024, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Florida officials have warned that the new rules could lead to roughly $1 billion in potential costs annually if error rates are not reduced. “We’re working aggressively to lower our error rate below six percent to avoid these penalties,” Royster told state lawmakers this month.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, the changes signal a major reorientation of federal food assistance policy — one emphasizing stricter eligibility, increased state accountability, and reduced spending.
Supporters say the reforms close loopholes, curb fraud, and promote self-sufficiency. Critics argue they risk deepening food insecurity for millions of vulnerable Americans — particularly older workers, parents, and low-income immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP, has yet to issue full guidance on how some provisions will be implemented. In a recent update on its website, the agency noted simply: “Further guidance is forthcoming.”
For now, state governments are scrambling to adapt systems, retrain staff, and communicate new eligibility rules before the November enforcement deadline.
With over 41 million people relying on SNAP to put food on the table each month, the coming months will test how far the federal government can stretch the safety net without breaking it.