Just as SNAP benefits have resumed for many families following the federal government reopening, a new set of permanent limits is poised to push millions off the program.
Nearly 42 million people rely on SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — to cover groceries and basic household needs. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture is rolling out guidance tied to President Donald Trump’s large domestic policy bill signed in July. The law adds stricter work rules, narrows eligibility for certain immigrants, and shifts part of the program’s cost to states.
According to Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, more than 3 million Americans could lose SNAP help over the next few years due to these changes. Anti-hunger advocates warn the impact will be immediate and widespread. Hunger Free America CEO Joel Berg said the new rules are likely to increase hardship and food insecurity across the country.
Expanded work requirements
The bill raises the top age for mandatory work requirements from 54 to 64 for able-bodied adults without dependents. It also tightens exemptions for caregivers: adults responsible for a dependent now only qualify for exemptions if the child is under 14, not under 18 as before.
The CBO projects about 1.1 million people will lose benefits between 2025 and 2034. That includes roughly 800,000 adults up to age 64 without dependents and about 300,000 parents or caregivers whose children are 14 or older. (ABC News)
Other exemptions were removed for homeless individuals, veterans, and young adults who aged out of foster care, while exemptions were added for American Indians. The CBO estimates an additional 300,000 people in the newly unprotected groups will lose aid. Berg argues these rules operate less as true work incentives and more as reporting hurdles that can force people to miss hours, lose wages, or fall off the rolls even when they are eligible.
Data from the 2023 American Community Survey shows most families receiving SNAP had at least one working member in the prior year. Still, research suggests stricter work rules often reduce enrollment: a 2021 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found such requirements can lead to large shares of eligible adults leaving the program within 18 months.
New limits on refugee and asylum eligibility
Under the law, many refugees, asylum seekers, and people granted humanitarian protections are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits, reversing long-standing federal policy. The change also affects some trafficking survivors and certain Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa holders who previously qualified.
The CBO estimates around 90,000 people in these categories will become ineligible. HIAS Vice President Naomi Steinberg criticized the shift in a statement, calling it both punitive and counterproductive for families rebuilding their lives in the U.S.
States will shoulder more of the cost
For the first time, states will be required to share in the cost of SNAP benefits. Beginning in 2028, states with SNAP payment error rates above 6% will have to cover 5% of benefit costs, rising to a maximum of 15%.
The CBO expects some states to respond by tightening eligibility or cutting benefit levels, potentially removing assistance for about 300,000 more people between 2028 and 2034. A Commonwealth Fund analysis estimates roughly $128 billion in costs could be shifted from the federal government to states — a burden many may struggle to meet. Critics warn this could push some states to scale back participation, increasing hunger and strain on local food systems.
