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For many families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a lifeline that helps them stretch their food dollars and save on groceries. According to new federal government data, over 4 million fewer individuals are receiving SNAP after changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) were enforced.
The drop is eye-opening, and the rising cost of food likely makes the loss of benefits even more challenging for households. Here's what you need to know if you, a friend, or a family member relies on SNAP.
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The decline in SNAP enrollment over the past year
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released data in early April indicating the changes in SNAP enrollment from January 2025 to January 2026. In January 2025, enrollment was 42.8 million. A year later, enrollment had declined to 38.6 million, a drop of approximately 4.2 million recipients.
The steepest drop in enrollment came after August 2025, and the largest single-month decline occurred between October and November 2025, when enrollment fell by over 1 million participants in a single month. The steep decline correlates with the November 1 deadline that the USDA set, requiring SNAP administrators to comply with the new rules implemented by the OBBBA.
How the OBBBA changed work requirements
SNAP provides monthly benefits to incomes and households with no or low income to help supplement their food budgets, but the OBBBA made many significant changes to the program. One of the largest changes was the expansion of work requirements. The new rules require that all "able-bodied adults" aged 64 or younger work, volunteer, or participate in job training at least 80 hours per month. Previously, the work requirement applied to individuals aged 54 or younger.
The work rule has also been expanded to apply to parents of children aged 14 or older. Exemptions for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who have aged out of foster care have also been removed.
What the work requirement means for SNAP recipients
The expansion of the work requirement may have caused many SNAP recipients to lose their benefits. According to the National Skills Coalition, many SNAP participants who are able to work already do, but they often have unstable or low-wage jobs. Many participants face significant barriers to working, including a lack of transportation, child care, or training.
If SNAP participants lose their benefits, they don't suddenly become more employable, but they do become hungrier. The loss of SNAP benefits may make it more difficult for individuals to focus on training or show up for work.
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Why people are losing SNAP benefits
The work requirements may be a significant cause behind why people are losing SNAP benefits, but they aren't the only factor. Program participants must recertify every three to six months, depending on the state in which they live. The recertification process itself may be a barrier that participants struggle with.
Some participants also become ineligible for SNAP because under the new rules, they no longer meet the threshold to receive benefits.
How the states are creating barriers to SNAP
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) reports that as states face financial challenges and are pressured to meet federal performance thresholds, they're increasing documentation requirements, shortening response windows, and adding procedural challenges for SNAP participants. SNAP agencies have limited staff capacity, so SNAP recipients who are trying to comply with the changing requirements may not be able to reach the agency, losing benefits even though they may be eligible.
A predicted decline in participation
The decline in SNAP participation doesn't come as a surprise. The Congressional Budget Office analyzed the OBBBA in August 2025 and found that approximately 4 million people would be affected by the changes to the program. That figure included people who would experience reduced benefits, while others would be removed from SNAP entirely because they would become ineligible.
The Trump administration's response
The Trump administration acknowledged the cuts that the OBBBA would create, justifying them as addressing fraud and abuse in the SNAP program.
However, a federal research project reviewed SNAP data from nine states and concluded that work requirements did not impact SNAP recipient participation in the labor force or the number of hours that SNAP participants worked. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has criticized the OBBBA, stating that the majority of people who would lose SNAP under the work requirement would experience no improvement in their job prospects or income.
The impact of the SNAP cuts
The households and individuals affected by the SNAP cuts are some of the most vulnerable. According to FRAC, nearly 75% of households that receive SNAP have gross monthly incomes either at or below the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that's $33,000 per year. Additionally, nearly 40% of SNAP participants are children, 20% are older adults, and 10% are individuals with disabilities.
Kicking people off of SNAP doesn't reduce the need, improve health, or strengthen the economy, states FRAC. Instead, the decline in SNAP participants may have long-lasting implications, prompting an increase in food insecurity.
Bottom line
The loss of SNAP benefits leaves millions of households vulnerable in the midst of increasing food prices and overall affordability concerns. In the face of economic instability, the loss of benefits might mean that more households face hunger.
If you or a loved one depends on SNAP, contact your local SNAP office and make sure that you stay informed about how any program changes might affect you. If you anticipate your SNAP benefits might decrease or end, you might look for ways to supplement your income.
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