Patrick
Many food stamp recipients are receiving their November payments, but a rapidly increasing share of enrollees may soon see their assistance disappear entirely.
Alongside disruptions caused by the recent federal shutdown, states have begun rolling out major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — specifically the broadened work requirements mandated by the Republican-backed legislation signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.
Why Millions of SNAP Recipients May Lose Benefits
New Requirements Under the GOP Bill
The new law significantly expands SNAP’s work-related obligations. More beneficiaries must now engage in employment, volunteer work, or job training for at least 80 hours each month. Individuals who fail to meet this requirement may only receive benefits for three months within a three-year period.
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment indicates that these expanded rules will reduce the number of SNAP recipients by 2.4 million per month over the next ten years. This projection includes 300,000 households with children.
When Benefits Could Start Ending
Individuals who do not comply with the updated mandate may begin losing benefits as early as March, although the exact timeline will vary by state and by recertification schedules.
How the Eligibility Rules Have Changed
Higher Age Threshold and Added Groups
Republicans have long advocated for more stringent work rules. Previously, the mandate applied only to individuals aged 18–49 without disabilities or dependents. Under the 2023 debt ceiling agreement, the age limit increased to 54. The newly passed spending bill expands it further to:
- Adults up to age 64
- Parents of children ages 14–17
- Veterans
- Individuals experiencing homelessness
- Former foster youth
Stricter Waiver Policies
States now face greater difficulty obtaining waivers during economic downturns. Previously, states could request waivers in areas with insufficient job opportunities. Under the new legislation, only areas with unemployment rates exceeding 10% qualify.
A federal judge in Rhode Island has temporarily stopped the USDA from ending some active waivers prematurely, though the department has not yet issued clarification. The USDA maintains that it is approving requests “within its statutory authority.”
Chaotic Rollout Amid Government Shutdown
Compressed Timeline for Implementation
The SNAP work rules were among the few provisions in the GOP bill that had no specific launch date. The USDA later clarified that the rules technically took effect on July 4, but states were effectively given until November 1 to implement them.
However, earlier this month, the USDA directed states not to count November when evaluating work compliance due to shutdown-related benefit delays.
While most states set November as their launch date, many acknowledged that their systems will not be prepared to track the expanded requirements until spring — a delay that could expose them to federal penalties.
Risk of Errors and System Strain
States worry that the rapid implementation could create unintended consequences. System updates that typically take 12–18 months are now being rushed into place within weeks, raising concerns about administrative mistakes and compliance failures.
States are also wary of errors because the legislation includes a provision requiring them to cover a greater share of administrative costs if they exhibit high payment inaccuracy rates.
How States Are Adapting to the New Rules
Connecticut’s Challenges
Connecticut estimates that about 36,000 residents — roughly 10% of its SNAP population — could lose benefits under the new criteria. The state has had to rely on temporary manual workarounds while scrambling to update its system. Officials worry about the accuracy of data integration and fear penalties if errors occur.
Pennsylvania’s Early Start
Pennsylvania began implementing the changes earlier after its regional waivers expired in September. Officials reached out proactively to affected households to determine whether exemptions apply. Without exemptions, some residents could begin losing benefits by January 1 if they do not meet the work requirement.
Prior to the new law, fewer than 25,000 Pennsylvanians were subject to work rules. Now, nearly 248,000 residents fall under the mandate. The state expects 144,000 recipients to lose benefits over the next year during the renewal process.
Efforts to Notify and Support Beneficiaries
States are attempting to notify potentially affected residents through text alerts, mailings, community outreach, online questionnaires, and dedicated websites.
Despite these efforts, officials worry that individuals who remain eligible could still lose benefits simply because they miss paperwork or fail to complete required steps.
As Hoa Pham of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services notes, even minor administrative oversights can cause someone to lose SNAP assistance they otherwise qualify for.
The expansion of SNAP’s work requirements marks one of the most significant changes to the program in years, with millions of Americans at risk of losing essential food assistance.
While lawmakers argue these rules promote workforce participation, states are struggling to implement complex systems, notify recipients, and avoid errors that could unfairly remove people from the program.
As the rollout continues, both states and beneficiaries face confusion, uncertainty, and a challenging transition period that may impact food security nationwide.