Big Changes to SNAP Could Affect Millions of American Families This Year

Over 42 million American families rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table. But beginning next fall, major changes to how SNAP is funded and administered could reshape who gets help—and how easily—for years to come.

These changes don’t just affect government budgets. They ripple outward to families, children, seniors, grocery stores, food banks, and entire communities.

Here’s what families need to know.

What Is Changing With SNAP?

For decades, SNAP worked under a clear division of responsibility:

• The federal government paid for food benefits

• States handled day-to-day operations, splitting administrative costs with the federal government

That balance is now shifting.

Under the HR1 Bill passed in 2025, states will begin paying a larger share of SNAP’s administrative costs starting in October 2026. In the years that follow, states with higher paperwork error rates will also be required to pay part of the actual food benefits, something they’ve never had to do before.

Experts estimate that, once fully phased in, these changes could cost states up to $15 billion each year.

Why Paperwork Errors Suddenly Matter So Much

SNAP eligibility is determined using extremely precise calculations—household size, income, rent, utilities, and employment status all matter. Even small misunderstandings can cause errors.

For example:

• A parent reports the full rent instead of just their portion

• A college student forgets to report a temporary move

• A family misses a paperwork deadline

Under the new rules, if a state’s error rate reaches 6% or higher, the state must help pay for benefits. At 10% or higher, the penalties increase sharply.

This has put enormous pressure on states to reduce errors quickly—often with limited time, staff, or technology.

More Rules, More Paperwork for Families

The changes also expand work requirements and narrow exemptions, affecting:

• Adults ages 55–64

• Parents of children over 14

• People experiencing homelessness

• Veterans and former foster youth

More families will be required to submit more documents more often,

including pay stubs and utility bills. States were given only a few months to implement these changes—despite the fact that many eligibility systems are outdated and understaffed.

The result? Longer wait times, more delays, and higher chances that eligible families lose benefits temporarily—or permanently—due to paperwork issues.

Fewer Families on SNAP Means More Hunger

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new rules will reduce SNAP participation by about 2.4 million people each month.

That loss doesn’t disappear—it shows up elsewhere:

• At food banks already stretched thin

• In families skipping meals

• In parents choosing between groceries and rent

And food banks cannot fill the gap. In Pennsylvania, SNAP provides about nine meals for every one meal food banks can offer. Making matters worse, a federal program that helped fund food banks was eliminated under the same law.

States like Maryland and Pennsylvania warn that tens of thousands of households could lose or see reductions in benefits, increasing food insecurity statewide.

The Ripple Effects on Communities

When SNAP access shrinks, the impact spreads:

• Grocery stores and local businesses lose sales

• Jobs are affected, especially in low-income areas

• Families face higher risks of eviction and homelessness

• Children experience worse health and educational outcomes

In states where SNAP use is high, every dollar in benefits generates more economic activity. In New Mexico, for example, SNAP supports nearly 18,000 jobs.

The Tough Choices States Now Face

State lawmakers are weighing difficult decisions:

• Invest now in staff and technology to reduce errors

• Or cut corners and risk higher long-term costs, delays, and hunger

Some states are requesting millions in new funding just to keep up. Others may tighten access to avoid penalties, even if that means fewer families get help.With state budgets already strained, many are dipping into rainy day funds—but those are short-term solutions to a long-term challenge.

Why This Matters for Families

SNAP has long been one of the most effective tools America has to reduce hunger—especially for children, seniors, and working families living paycheck to paycheck.

As these changes roll out, families may experience:

• More paperwork

• Longer waits

• Confusion about eligibility

• Sudden loss of benefits over minor errors

Understanding what’s happening—and why—can help families, advocates, and communities push for solutions that protect access to food while keeping systems accountable.

Because when food assistance falters, families pay the price first.