Changes to SNAP Work Requirements Starting Soon
Beginning Sunday, new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest federal aid program in the U.S., will take effect in more states.
From today, adults aged 18 to 64 without dependent children must either work, engage in employment and training programs, or volunteer for at least 80 hours each month to qualify for SNAP benefits. If they do not comply, they’ll only be eligible for benefits for three months over a three-year period.
These updated rules expand previous exemptions and now include adults aged 55 to 64, as well as parents with children aged 14 and older. The legislation also removes prior exemptions for veterans, the homeless, and young adults aged 18 to 24 who aged out of foster care, as per federal guidelines.
These changes stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that was signed into law by President Trump last summer.
Impact on Participants and Future Benefits
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that around 2.4 million people will lose access to SNAP over the next decade because of these new provisions. Of those affected, a significant portion are able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without children, along with around 300,000 who live with children aged 14 and older.
Additionally, the legislation introduces broader modifications to SNAP, which could change benefit amounts for various households. For instance, there will be restrictions on future benefit increases and adjustments on how living expenses are factored into monthly assistance calculations, which might ultimately lead to lower benefits over time, even for those who still qualify.
As this broader rollout occurs, different states will implement these changes in varying timelines. For example, Texas began enforcing the new requirements last October, so some residents may have already reached their benefits cap. States like Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, and Georgia started the three-month eligibility window in November, which is now concluding.
The law does provide some flexibility for regions facing high unemployment rates. Counties with unemployment exceeding 10% may be eligible for waivers, and states like Alaska and Hawaii can suspend work requirements if their unemployment rates hit 1.5 times the national average.
Looking ahead, the CBO has indicated that further legislative adjustments may lead states to alter or decrease their SNAP programs in the future. This is significant because states could be responsible for a larger share of both administrative and benefit costs under specific conditions.
Currently, nearly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP assistance, with over 80% of SNAP households earning below the federal poverty line, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
