Millions of Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Its mission has always been to assist those who are most disadvantaged in accessing food.
Given that Donald Trump won the 2024 election and is now back in the White House, there is much speculation about what will happen to this program. His administration has already indicated that it intends to make changes, primarily to reduce costs and, according to them, improve recipients’ nutrition.
SNAP changes that could change thousands of Americans’ benefits
Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration have been discussing ways to reduce spending on this program for some time. And the cost is high: the government will spend $119.4 billion on SNAP in 2022 alone, with $113.9 billion going directly to recipients.
The remainder was used for administrative purposes. The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) is one of the most contentious topics. Joe Biden’s 2021 decision to increase SNAP benefits by 23% provided many families with more money to spend on groceries.
Republicans argue that because Biden approved it without consulting Congress, it was not legal. What are their suggestions? Turn the increase back on. Except for inflation adjustments, successful recipients would receive less money.
One of the most contentious ideas is about to be discussed. There is now a provision called Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), which allows some people to receive SNAP without meeting all of the asset and income requirements.
For example, this happens to recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other similar programs. This would be repealed if the Republicans were to win. How does that sound? That if they do not meet the exact financial requirements, many families who currently receive SNAP may lose it.
Furthermore, the number of people per household who are eligible for the maximum payment has changed. A family of up to six can now receive up to $1,390 per month through SNAP. Larger families would receive fewer benefits if the proposal were approved.
Additional SNAP limitations for non-workers
Work requirements are yet another delicate topic. For more than three months in a row, people aged 18 to 54 have been required to work at least 80 hours per month in order to qualify for SNAP. The latest proposal would raise the age limit to 56.
This change would affect many people who are unable to find stable employment for a variety of reasons. Democrats are already strongly opposed, claiming that the proposal will harm the most vulnerable. However, while all of this is being debated, SNAP continues to function normally. If you are a beneficiary, you can get your money on the following dates in February 2025:
- February 1st: Alaska, Rhode Island, Vermont, North Dakota, Virgin Islands.
- February 1-3: Connecticut.
- February 1-4: Wyoming.
- February 1-5: New Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Hawaii (Feb. 3-5).
- February 1-7: Virginia, Montana (Feb. 2-6).
- February 1-9: New York, Oregon, West Virginia.
- February 1-10: Colorado, California, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Iowa, District of Columbia, Guam, and Idaho.
- February 10: South Dakota.
- February 1-13: Arizona, Arkansas (Feb. 4-13), Minnesota (Feb. 4-13).
- February 1-14: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania (Feb. 3-14), Maine (Feb. 10-14).
- February 1-15: Wisconsin, Utah (Feb. 5, 11, 15).
- February 1-19: Kentucky, South Carolina.
- February 1-20: Illinois, New Mexico, Ohio (Feb. 2-20), Tennessee, Washington.
- February 3-21: Michigan, Mississippi (Feb. 4-21), North Carolina.
- February 1-22: Missouri, Puerto Rico (Feb. 4-22).
- February 1-23: Alabama (Feb. 4-23), Delaware (Feb. 2-23), Indiana (Feb. 5-23), Louisiana, Maryland (Feb. 4-23), Georgia (5-23)
- February 1-28: Florida, Texas.
Will SNAP changes become effective soon?
There has still been no decision, as these changes must be approved by Congress before they can be implemented. The Democrats have already stated that they will not accept these measures, so the battle will be fierce there. SNAP’s future is uncertain.
Changes to this program will affect millions of families. It is critical to monitor the debate’s progression and, more importantly, understand the implications of each proposal for those who may be affected. As of now, SNAP is operating normally.
