SNAP benefits are entering another unstable phase just as millions of households plan their food budgets for the new year. New federal rules and funding cuts are set to reshape who qualifies, how long assistance lasts, and how strict compliance will be in 2025.
For families already living close to the edge, the timing matters. Even though benefits resumed after last year’s government shutdown, the system now faces its deepest funding reduction ever, paired with broader work requirements that will affect eligibility across the country.
SNAP benefits under pressure in 2025
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program supports roughly 41.7 million Americans, helping cover basic food costs each month. In 2025, that support is becoming harder to access and easier to lose. Over the summer, Congress approved a sweeping budget package known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” One of its biggest consequences was a $186 billion reduction in SNAP funding, the largest cut since the program began.
These changes do not cancel the program, but they do narrow it. Fewer exemptions, tighter timelines, and stricter checks are now part of the system.
Funding cuts meet tougher eligibility rules
The funding reduction is only part of the story. New work requirements are being phased in nationwide and will apply during the next recertification period, which typically happens every six to twelve months. Under the updated rules, able-bodied adults without dependents must meet work or training requirements for a longer portion of their lives. The upper age limit has increased from 54 to 64.
Several long-standing exemptions have also been removed, including for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who recently exited foster care.
Another major shift affects immigrant households. The new legislation fully restricts access to SNAP benefits for several immigrant categories that were previously eligible. Refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking are now excluded from receiving benefits under the revised framework. This change applies regardless of work status or length of residence.
State agencies are already preparing for an increase in denied applications tied specifically to immigration status.
Why work requirements change outcomes
Work requirements are often presented as neutral rules, but their impact depends heavily on who is subject to them. Groups newly affected by the changes already face higher barriers to stable employment. Older adults often manage chronic health conditions that limit physical labor. People without stable housing may lack transportation, documentation, or internet access needed for job searches.
Even when employment is available, many low-income workers are concentrated in physically demanding fields such as agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. These jobs require higher calorie intake, not less.
Food insecurity risks rise again
Research consistently shows that reductions in SNAP benefit amounts lead to skipped meals and lower-quality diets. When benefits are fully withdrawn, the effects are faster and harder to reverse. Emergency food networks are also under strain. Recent federal funding reductions for food banks and community pantries have limited their ability to absorb increased demand.
This creates a gap where households lose benefits before alternative support is available. What states and cities can still doWhile SNAP is federally funded, state and local governments still play a role in reducing disruption. Some jurisdictions are already exploring stopgap measures.
Programs like nutrition outreach services have shown that hands-on assistance improves approval rates and reduces administrative errors.