After a disruptive U.S. government shutdown, federal SNAP food assistance is again flowing to low-income households. However, many participants will face new work requirements in the months ahead.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits—averaging around $190 per person—to about 42 million people nationwide. During the initial weeks of November, many recipients missed their regular allotments as the Trump administration fought in court over funding amidst the shutdown.
Benefits Now Available After Disruptions
The situation was chaotic, as the federal government initially stated that SNAP would not be funded during the shutdown. Some states utilized their own resources or federal dollars to replenish e-benefit cards, while others did not. Most states increased food charity efforts, though long lines and empty shelves were common.
Once the government reopened on November 12, states rushed to distribute benefits, and by Tuesday, all states had either fully loaded November benefits onto recipients' cards or were actively processing them. Participants should receive December SNAP benefits according to the usual schedule.
New Work Requirements Impacting SNAP Recipients
A huge tax and spending bill signed by Trump in July introduced new work obligations for many adult SNAP recipients, mandating them to work, volunteer, or join job training for 80 hours monthly. Those failing to meet the requirements will only be eligible for three months of benefits within a three-year period.
These obligations now extend to individuals aged 55-64 and parents without children under 14, alongside repealing exemptions for the homeless, veterans, and youth aging out of foster care. The ability for states to waive requirements in low-job areas is also curtailed. Though the Trump administration suspended these work requirements in November, the three-month clock will begin in December.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the new regulations will reduce the average monthly SNAP participant count by about 2.4 million over the next decade.
Concerns Over SNAP Integrity
Following the shutdown, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins raised concerns regarding SNAP's integrity, citing issues like deceased individuals receiving benefits and multiple claims. Rollins proposed a reapplication process for all SNAP recipients, leaving ambiguity about whether this is a new requirement or a reiteration of existing recertification processes.
Under federal law, most households are required to report their income and information every four to six months, with complete recertifications occurring at least annually. States can implement more frequent checks, leading to numerous households needing to recertify every four to six months.
