States are working to get food assistance flowing again after the government shutdown. And they’re also working to implement new work restrictions and cuts to SNAP benefits.
This summer, Congress made changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program when it passed the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The United States Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP, issued new guidance Friday that will begin to push many people off of the program.
More people may lose benefits as individual states clean up accounting, implement work requirements and begin to share costs for the program with the federal government.
Alabama residents who did not receive regular SNAP benefits during the shutdown should have promptly received payments starting Nov. 14, according to the state.
Here’s what to know about the changes to SNAP.
New work requirements
Historically, some able-bodied adults without dependents have been able to avoid work requirements.
The One Big Beautiful Bill changes mean that most able-bodied adults under the age of 65 must prove they are working to continue receiving benefits.
Able-bodied adults without dependents need to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month, pursuing an education, or in a training program to keep qualifying for SNAP. Without proof, they can only receive benefits for a maximum of three months.
Parents with dependents under the age of 14 may be exempt from work requirements. Parents with dependents between the ages of 14 and 18 probably will need to work.
Veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults transitioning out of foster care also all used to be exempt. Now, all these groups need to meet the work requirements.
People with disabilities remain exempt from work requirements.
Immigrants, refugees lose SNAP benefits
The One Big Beautiful Bill changes “non-citizen eligibility for SNAP,” including cutting off some people who are in the country legally.
According to new guidance from the USDA, only the following groups can qualify for SNAP: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, Cuban and Haitian entrants and Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens. COFA is a financial assistance agreement between the U.S., Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Lawful permanent residents, also known as Green Card holders, are only eligible for SNAP after a 5-year waiting period, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.
Some Green Card holders can qualify sooner, if they are under 18 or “have a U.S. military connection,” for example.
Refugees, those who have been granted asylum, and human trafficking survivors will lose benefits.
When do changes take effect?
State are supposed to implement the new rules starting Nov. 1.
SNAP is back, but new cuts are starting immediately
