The disruptions to SNAP benefits this past fall brought the daily challenge of food insecurity into sharp relief for many Americans. The issue of SNAP has receded from the headlines, but last summer’s federal reconciliation act (H.R. 1) included numerous policy changes that have only recently taken effect.

Over the next decade, SNAP funding is set to be reduced by $186 billion; 22.3 million families will likely lose some or all of their benefits. 

Numbers only tell us so much; understanding the details and real-life implications of these changes takes work. We’re grateful to the experts at Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center who break down the key changes families can expect. The following information reflects their interpretation of key provisions of H.R. 1.

Will immigration status affect benefits?

The law significantly restricts eligibility for legally present non-citizens.

Non-citizens who lost SNAP eligibility

For decades, federal law specifically allowed legal refugees and asylum-seekers access to SNAP; H.R. 1 removed this provision entirely.

Other groups no longer eligible:

• Trafficking victims previously certified by Health and Human Services
• Those granted “withholding of removal”  status (protection from deportation to dangerous countries for those who don’t technically meet the refugee or asylum definition)
• Iraqi or Afghan special immigrant visa holders who worked with U.S. forces or agencies
• Temporary Protected Status holders from countries including El Salvador, Honduras, and Venezuela
• Humanitarian parolees (except for Cuban and Haitian entrants specifically)

Non-citizens who can still receive SNAP

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders), but they typically need to wait five years after getting a green card, unless under 18, disabled, blind, or have military connections.
• Those who originally entered the U.S. as a refugee or were granted asylum, but have since adjusted their status to become a lawful permanent resident.
• Cuban or Haitian entrants through humanitarian parole programs, and citizens of Palau, Micronesia, or the Marshall Islands, who are in the U.S. under Compact of Free Association Agreements. 

Who is subject to work requirements?

The new law significantly expands who is subject to SNAP’s time-limited work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD), including groups that were previously exempt. 

The new law makes three major changes to ABAWD work requirements: 

• The age limit has been increased from 54 to 64. If you’re in your late fifties or early sixties, these rules now apply to you. 
• The definition of “dependent child” has changed from under 18 to under 14. If someone’s youngest child is 14 or older, they now face the same 80-hour monthly requirement as someone without kids.
• Previously, states had the flexibility to waive the three-month time limit in areas where unemployment was high or jobs were hard to find. Under the new law, states can do this only in areas where the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent, a level that’s rarely reached, even in areas with limited job openings.

Will changes to utility allowances reduce benefits?

In many cases, yes. SNAP calculates benefits based partly on housing and utility costs. Higher costs have historically meant higher benefits, since it leaves less money left for food. The new law changes the way SNAP calculates these costs.

If nobody in a household is age 60+ or has a disability, benefits may shrink.

Under the old rules, receiving heating or cooling assistance from a federal program such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) automatically qualified for a substantial standard deduction. Now, to claim utility costs, individuals will need to provide copies of their bills, and SNAP will only count what they actually spend, which may be less than the old standard. If utilities are included in one’s rent, they likely won’t be able to be claimed.

How do these changes impact our local community?

Based on what we’re seeing, the most direct impact is a continued increase in the need for programs like ours. Families on the margins are being pushed even further aside. Filling in the Blanks programs—from our Weekend Meal Bags to Fresh Food on the Move—are designed to shrink the margins, fill in critical gaps, impart dignity, and help children and their families thrive.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, we’d love to have you! Learn how to get involved today.