Sweeping changes to the federal food stamp program — officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — are set to begin taking effect this November under the newly enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These reforms mark one of the largest and most far-reaching overhauls to the nation’s food assistance system in decades. Over the next ten years, the legislation will cut approximately $187 billion in federal SNAP funding, reshaping how millions of low-income households access food support.
According to new projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the changes will significantly modify eligibility criteria, impose stricter work requirements, and shift a meaningful share of administrative expenses onto state governments. Ultimately, the CBO estimates that an average of 2.4 million people per month will lose their SNAP benefits once all provisions are fully implemented.
Expanded Work Requirements
Under current rules, adults who receive SNAP benefits must work at least 80 hours per month if they wish to continue receiving assistance beyond three months in any three-year period. The new legislation keeps the work-hour requirement in place but expands the age group to which it applies. Previously, the requirement was limited to adults aged 18 through 54. Starting this fall, however, the mandate will extend up to age 64 — effectively adding a full decade of older adults into the category of individuals required to meet monthly work benchmarks.
Although exemptions remain for people with verified physical or mental limitations that prevent them from working, several key protections that existed in past SNAP policy have been rolled back. For example, parents with dependent children were once exempt from the work rule as long as their children were minors. Under the new regulations, that exemption applies only to parents whose children are age 13 or younger.
Other groups previously granted exemptions — including individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and young adults up to age 24 who aged out of the foster care system — will lose those protections under the new law. This shift is expected to have a sweeping effect on some of the most vulnerable participants in the program.
States will still be allowed to request federal waivers if they face exceptionally high unemployment rates. For most states, that threshold is an unemployment rate above 10 percent. Alaska and Hawaii, due to their distinct labor market structures, automatically qualify for waivers when their unemployment rates exceed 150 percent of the national average. Although the law officially took effect on July 4, all states have a 120-day window to comply and roll out the updated rules.
Sharp Cuts in Participation
With the expanded work requirements and narrower exemptions, SNAP participation is expected to decrease substantially. The CBO estimates that between now and 2034, roughly 2.4 million fewer people will receive SNAP benefits in an average month. While the law does introduce some new flexibilities for tribal communities — which may boost participation among Native Americans — it is not enough to offset the overall nationwide reduction.
Today, around 41 million Americans depend on SNAP benefits each month. Advocates warn that the projected decline represents a significant contraction of the nation’s food assistance network.
Immigration Eligibility Tightened
Another major shift in the legislation involves immigration-based eligibility. Under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, certain categories of non-citizens — including lawful residents admitted before 1948, parolees, and individuals deemed “non-deportable” — were eligible for SNAP under specific circumstances. The new law eliminates all of these carve-outs.
Under the revised rules, only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) will qualify for SNAP benefits, with only limited exceptions. As a result, thousands of immigrants who previously qualified due to humanitarian parole status, long-term residency, or restrictive deportation orders will no longer be eligible.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) strongly criticized the policy shift, stating that 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 defended the decision, arguing that the program must prioritize citizens and legal permanent residents. “Illegals burden taxpayers with billions in costs for free health care and welfare benefits,” the administration said in a statement. “The One Big Beautiful Bill ends Medicaid and SNAP fraud and ensures these programs serve only eligible Americans.”
CBO analysts estimate that roughly 90,000 individuals per month will lose SNAP eligibility as a direct result of the new immigration criteria.
Changes to the Thrifty Food Plan
SNAP benefit amounts are calculated based on the Thrifty Food Plan, a federal estimate of the minimum cost of a nutritious diet for a family of four. In 2021, the Department of Agriculture updated the plan using modern nutritional science, leading to a substantial increase in benefit levels.
The new legislation freezes major updates to the Thrifty Food Plan until at least October 1, 2027. Moreover, it requires all future revisions to be cost-neutral, meaning they cannot increase SNAP benefits even if food prices rise or dietary guidelines change.
Annual cost-of-living adjustments will continue, but these increases will now be capped based on household size. For example, a five-person household recently saw its maximum benefit rise only slightly — from $1,158 to $1,183 — a smaller bump than in prior years. The law also standardizes costs across households nationwide, removing previous flexibility that accounted for regional food prices and demographic variations.
States Shouldering More Costs
In addition to restructuring eligibility, the One Big Beautiful Bill shifts how SNAP administrative costs are divided between federal and state governments. Historically, the federal government reimbursed states for 50 percent of their administrative expenses. Under the new framework, that reimbursement rate will drop to 25 percent starting in fiscal year 2027.
This major funding shift will force states to absorb significantly higher costs. Large states such as Florida expect dramatic budget impacts. Bridget Royster, assistant secretary for Florida’s Department of Children and Families, announced that Florida alone will face an estimated $50.6 million per year in additional costs.
The bill also introduces new penalties for states with high error rates in benefit payments — meaning overpayments, underpayments, or issuing benefits to individuals who are ineligible. If a state’s payment error rate exceeds six percent, it will be financially responsible for a portion of the penalties.
Only nine states maintained error rates below six percent in fiscal year 2024. Historically, nearly all states have exceeded that threshold at some point between 2003 and 2024. Florida officials warned that the new penalty system could lead to as much as $1 billion in potential annual costs if error rates do not decline. “We’re working aggressively to lower our error rate below six percent to avoid these penalties,” Royster told lawmakers.
The Larger Implications
Taken as a whole, the changes represent a major ideological and structural transformation of federal food assistance policy. Supporters claim the reforms will reduce fraud, tighten oversight, and encourage work and self-sufficiency. Critics counter that the changes will deepen hunger and hardship for millions, particularly among older adults, low-income workers, parents with teenagers, and immigrants.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture — the federal agency responsible for administering SNAP — has yet to release detailed guidance on how all parts of the law will be implemented. On its website, the USDA has stated only that “Further guidance is forthcoming.”
Meanwhile, state governments are racing to update their computer systems, retrain caseworkers, and notify millions of households about the new eligibility rules before the November enforcement deadline.
With more than 41 million Americans relying on SNAP to put food on the table, the coming months will reveal how well — or how poorly — the country’s safety net can withstand such sweeping changes. The full impact will unfold gradually, but one thing is clear: the structure of America’s primary food assistance program is about to look very different.