New SNAP work requirements go into effect in many states under Trump-backed legislation
FOX Business host Charles Payne breaks down the SNAP food benefits program and how it’s being affected by the government shutdown on ‘Making Money.’
New job requirements are increasing in every state on Sunday through the Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the nation’s largest aid program.
Starting today, adults between the ages of 18 and 64 without dependent children must work, participate in employment and training programs, or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to qualify for SNAP benefits. Those who do not meet the requirement can receive benefits for only three months in a three-year period.
The new requirements extend the work rules to additional groups that were previously exempt, including seniors ages 55 to 64 and parents with children age 14 or older. The law also removes early exemptions for veterans, the homeless and people ages 18 to 24 who were adopted by children when they turned 18, according to federal guidance.
The changes stem from provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last summer.
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A “SNAP is accepted here” sign at the entrance of a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. (Getty Images)
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the new provisions will reduce SNAP participation by an estimated 2.4 million people over the next 10 years. About one-third of those affected are adults ages 18 to 64 who do not have dependent children, while nearly 300,000 are able-bodied adults in that age group who live with children age 14 or older.
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Besides the work requirements, the law also makes broad changes to SNAP that will affect benefit levels for many households, including limits on future benefit increases and changes to how certain living expenses are counted when calculating monthly benefits, according to CBO. Those provisions are expected to result in smaller amounts of benefits over time, even for some recipients who remain eligible.
A volunteer displays information about SNAP at a grocery store in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on Nov. 3, 2025. (Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
While the broader expansion goes into effect Sunday — including in Illinois and Ohio — implementation varies across states. Texas, for example, began implementing its new requirements in October, meaning some recipients may have already exhausted their three-month window for benefits. In Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado and Georgia, for example, the three-month window began in November, so that period is now expiring.
The law allows for flexibility in areas with high unemployment. States with unemployment rates above 10% may qualify for waivers, while Alaska and Hawaii may suspend work requirements if unemployment reaches 1.5 times the national average.
“SNAP/EBT Food Stamp Benefits Accepted” is displayed on a screen inside a Family Dollar store in Chicago on March 3, 2020. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CBO also warned that additional changes in the law could cause states to change or scale back their SNAP programs in the coming years, as states would be required to cover a larger share of administrative costs and benefits under certain circumstances.
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About 42 million Americans currently receive SNAP benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 80% of SNAP families have incomes at or below the federal poverty line.
