The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is about to undergo some of the most sweeping reforms in its history. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that even though normal funding has resumed after the 43 day shutdown, the program needs what she calls major right sizing. She made the case that the program has grown too large, too loose in its oversight, and too vulnerable to fraud. The coming changes will reset who qualifies for benefits and how the states manage the program.
What is SNAP and Who Does it Server
SNAP is the federal food assistance program that helps low income workers, seniors, the disabled and families buy groceries. Benefits are delivered each month on an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, which works like a debit card. In fiscal 2024, SNAP served an average of 41.7 million people each month. Federal spending reached nearly 100 billion dollars that year, which comes out to about 187 dollars per recipient monthly.
Eligibility is based on household size, income and a budget calculation that determines how much assistance a family actually qualifies for. Income limits vary depending on whether a household has earned income, older adults, disabled members or childcare expenses. Maximum monthly allotments range from 298 dollars for a single person to 1,789 dollars for a household of eight, with more for each added member.
Rollins said the shutdown exposed deep problems inside SNAP. According to data from 29 Republican led states, 186,000 deceased individuals were still receiving benefits and another 500,000 people were getting benefits twice. She added that the numbers may be worse in states that have not provided their data.
She argued that SNAP benefits increased by about 40 percent under the previous administration and that the growth in spending and enrollment has outpaced proper oversight. She said the administration is determined to make sure the program supports people who truly need help instead of allowing errors or abuse to drain limited resources.
A USDA spokesperson echoed that point, saying that fraud, waste and incessant abuse must end and that the administration is now enforcing recertification, analyzing state data, and preparing new regulations.
What Will Change in the Qualifications
Rollins announced that every SNAP beneficiary will be required to reapply to verify that they are eligible. This process is aimed at removing duplicate cases, deceased recipients and people who no longer meet income or work requirements. Additional structural changes will be announced after Thanksgiving.
Starting in 2028, states with a payment error rate above 6 percent will lose federal SNAP funding. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that states will reduce or eliminate benefits for about 300,000 people as they try to avoid losing those federal dollars.
Work requirements will also continue to shape eligibility. Able bodied adults without dependents must follow time limit rules unless they meet specific exemptions such as disability, work hours or participation in education and training programs.
How Many People Could Lose Benefits
The required reapplication alone could lead to hundreds of thousands losing benefits, either because they no longer qualify, failed to complete paperwork, or had duplicate or inactive accounts. Combined with the state level penalties beginning in 2028, the number of people removed from SNAP could be significantly higher than the estimated 300,000 tied to error rate rules.
Supporters say the reforms are overdue. They believe taxpayers deserve a program that prevents fraud and ensures assistance goes only to those who meet the income and work standards. They argue that removing ineligible recipients will strengthen the program for people who genuinely depend on it. Rollins said the spotlight is now on fixing longstanding structural problems and bringing integrity back into SNAP.
Critics warn that right sizing may lead to unnecessary hardship for vulnerable families. They argue that many people removed from SNAP will lose benefits not because of fraud but because of paperwork barriers or state level errors. They also worry that reduced funding for states with high error rates may push states to cut benefits rather than improve administration. Some warn that a sudden mass recertification process could overwhelm state offices and create confusion among legitimate recipients who risk losing food assistance.
Opponents say the government should focus on helping families stay afloat during periods of high inflation and economic instability instead of tightening access.
The administration will release full details of the new rules after Thanksgiving. Rollins has made clear that the program will shift toward stronger verification, stricter oversight and new rules that link federal funding to error reduction. Supporters believe the changes will protect the integrity of SNAP. Skeptics argue that many families could be pushed off the program at a time when grocery costs remain high.
IAM Editor: This is a massive program, it needs to be reviewed. Democrats always expand this kind of program, and they feed on themselves. Anything you subsidize you get more of.
