Some of the approximately 42 million low-income Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, have been left with no time to prepare for the new work requirements.
The nation’s largest nutrition assistance program has come under renewed scrutiny after it became a flashpoint during the 43-day 2025 government shutdown, which ultimately ended with restored funding, though not before a series of lawsuits. SNAP was cut long before the impasse; However, when President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July 2025, it outlined tighter restrictions and billions in funding cuts.
According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the new work requirements were added to prevent “fraud and waste”, although the U.S. Congressional Research Service described SNAP fraud as “rare” in an April 7, 2025 report, stating that available data and reports indicate that many of the overpayments can be attributed to unintentional errors.
Critics have warned of the changes, saying they weaken a vital social safety net. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that about 3.5 million people could lose benefits between July 2025 and February 2026, prompting local politicians, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, to pass legislation to try to fill the gap.
States were given a grace period to implement these rules before recipients would start seeing potential cuts in benefits. Many states with large populations, including New York and California, had cutoffs for work requirements on June 1, meaning more Americans are now subject to the conditions.
New SNAP Tasks Requirements
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed in July cuts an estimated $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It also added new restrictions to the program, including expanded work requirements.
Under the bill, non-disabled adults (referred to in government documents as able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWD) who wish to receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 3-year period must meet work requirements if they:
- There are no documented exemptions, medical or situational (physical or mental health, pregnancy, age, assistance from other programs, or belonging to specified Indian groups).
- Age is 18-65 (previous maximum age was 55).
- Do not have a dependent child under the age of 14 (previous dependent age under 18).
- Are a veteran, a person age 24 or younger who recently came out of foster care, or a homeless person. Previously, these groups were exempt from work requirements.
To meet the work requirements, non-exempt recipients must do one of the following:
- Work a paid job at least 20 hours a week (80 hours a month), or earn a minimum of $217.50 per week before taxes.
- Perform at least 80 hours of unpaid work per month – for example, performing building maintenance in exchange for a reduction in rent. Pre-approval and verifiable proof of hours is required.
- Participate in an approved education or training program for at least 80 hours per month. This may include college courses, certification or credential programs, SNAP employment and training programs, local job preparation courses, and similar initiatives. Participating in a drug or alcohol treatment program is also eligible.
- Perform a number of hours of community service or volunteer work based on state-specific guidelines. Hours are calculated by dividing your SNAP benefits by the state minimum wage – for example, if you receive $300 in SNAP and your state’s minimum wage is $16, you must complete 18 hours of community service per month.
Who gets SNAP benefits?
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to about 12% of Americans to help them purchase basic foods. A large proportion of recipients are elderly, disabled or children.
To qualify, families must be at or below 130% of the poverty line. In 2026, that means earnings of no more than $15,960 for an individual, $27,320 for a family of three, or $38,680 for a family of five.
According to the USDA, the maximum monthly allocation to a one-person household in 2025 was $298, while a three-person household could receive up to $785 and a five-person household could receive up to $1,183. Special additional rules apply to households with elderly or disabled members.
SNAP benefits are set by states and funded by the USDA. Recipients must regularly recertify to maintain eligibility, and approved recipients are given a limited time frame to access their benefits.