1. ABAWD Age Range: 18 to 64
What changed: The upper age limit for ABAWD classification was raised from 54 to 64.
Who is affected: Adults ages 55 to 64 who were previously excluded from ABAWD rules and faced no work requirement. They now must work, train, or perform community service for at least 80 hours per month or face a three-month benefit limit within any 36-month period.
Estimated impact: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities projects more than one million older adults ages 55 to 64 losing SNAP benefits as a result.
What "work" counts: Paid employment, self-employment, job training through an approved program, SNAP Employment and Training participation, and community service all count toward the 80-hour monthly threshold. Hours from multiple activities can be combined.
2. Caregiver Exemption Narrowed: Under 18 to Under 14
What changed: Parents and caregivers of dependent children were previously exempt from ABAWD rules if any child in the household was under 18. Under the OBBB, that exemption only applies if the youngest child in the household is under 14.
Who is affected: Adults who are the primary caregiver for a child ages 14 to 17 and have no other qualifying exemption. A single parent of a 15-year-old who was previously exempt now faces the ABAWD work requirement.
Estimated impact: Hundreds of thousands of households with teenagers between 14 and 17 are affected. Many are single-parent households.
Note: If you have multiple children and the youngest is under 14, you still qualify for the caregiver exemption.
3. Veteran Exemption Eliminated
What changed: Veterans had a blanket exemption from ABAWD rules under prior law. The OBBB removed that exemption entirely.
Who is affected: Veterans of any age (18 to 64) who receive SNAP, have no qualifying disability, and do not have a child under 14 in their household. They must now meet the 80-hour work requirement or face the time limit.
Note: Veterans with documented disabilities that prevent work may still qualify for the medical/disability exemption. That requires documentation from a licensed medical provider.
4. Homeless Exemption Eliminated
What changed: People experiencing homelessness had a blanket exemption from ABAWD rules. The OBBB removed it.
Who is affected: Unhoused individuals ages 18 to 64 who receive SNAP. They now face the ABAWD work requirement unless they qualify for another exemption.
Practical challenge: People experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to meeting an 80-hour monthly work requirement: no stable address for mail, no reliable transportation, health conditions that may not be formally documented, and limited access to job training programs.
5. Former Foster Youth Exemption Eliminated
What changed: Individuals ages 18 to 24 who had aged out of foster care at age 18 previously had an automatic ABAWD exemption. The OBBB removed it.
Who is affected: SNAP recipients ages 18 to 24 who exited foster care at 18 and do not have a separate qualifying exemption. They must now meet the work requirement or face the time limit.
6. New American Indian and Alaska Native Exemption
What changed: The OBBB added a new ABAWD exemption specifically for American Indians and Alaska Natives. This is one of the few ABAWD expansions in the legislation.
Who benefits: Enrolled tribal members and Alaska Natives, regardless of age, are exempt from ABAWD work requirements. This exemption applies across the 18 to 64 age range.
7. State Area Waivers Terminated
What changed: States had long used a federal waiver authority to exempt residents in high-unemployment areas from ABAWD rules. Thirty-two states held active waivers. All waivers were automatically terminated on November 2, 2025. No new waivers can be issued.
Who is affected: SNAP recipients in high-unemployment areas who had been protected from ABAWD rules by a state waiver. They now face the work requirement regardless of local economic conditions.
Impact: This change is particularly significant in rural counties and regions that experienced economic downturns. Even in areas where 80-hour-per-month jobs are genuinely scarce, residents now face the time limit.
8. Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) Capped
What changed: The Thrifty Food Plan is the USDA formula that determines maximum SNAP benefit amounts. Under prior law, USDA could revise the TFP upward to reflect actual food costs, as it did in 2021 when the plan was updated to reflect more realistic food prices. The OBBB limits future TFP adjustments to inflation-only updates using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). USDA cannot revise the TFP upward beyond inflation even if a formal analysis finds that food costs have risen faster.
Who is affected: All SNAP recipients, because this cap prevents future benefit increases that would otherwise reflect actual food cost increases. Current benefit levels are not reduced; the cap applies to future increases.
What it means practically: SNAP maximum benefit amounts will grow only with overall inflation. If food prices rise faster than the CPI-U (which they historically do), SNAP benefits will cover a smaller share of actual food costs over time.
9. Internet Utility Deduction: Never Implemented
What changed: A previously planned expansion of SNAP utility deductions to include internet expenses was blocked. The OBBB prohibited USDA from implementing any rule that would allow internet costs to count toward the SNAP utility deduction.
Who this affects: Primarily lower-income SNAP households in states that would have included internet costs in a Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) calculation. The change prevents a future increase to SNAP benefits that had been under consideration.
10. LIHEAP / Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Restriction
What changed: Under prior rules, a household receiving even a minimal LIHEAP benefit could claim the full Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) when calculating their SNAP deductions, effectively boosting SNAP benefits. The OBBB restricts this for households that do not include a member age 60 or older or a member with a disability.
Who is affected: Younger, non-disabled SNAP households that had been using LIHEAP receipt to claim the SUA. Many states in the Northeast and West used this strategy to increase SNAP benefits. Estimates suggest affected households may lose approximately $100 per month in SNAP benefits.
Households not affected: If any household member is age 60 or older or has a documented disability, the household can still use LIHEAP receipt to claim the SUA.
11. Non-Citizen SNAP Eligibility Restricted
What changed: Starting October 1, 2026, SNAP eligibility will be limited to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs). Refugees, asylees, and humanitarian parolees who were previously eligible will lose SNAP eligibility. The primary exception is Cubans and Haitians under specific provisions.
Who is affected: Refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and certain humanitarian parolees who have been legally present in the U.S. but are not LPRs. Many of these individuals have been relying on SNAP while they pursue permanent status.
Implementation date: October 1, 2026. Affected individuals currently enrolled in SNAP should receive advance notice before that date.
12. State Cost Sharing for SNAP Benefits
What changed: For the first time in SNAP's history, states will be required to contribute to the cost of SNAP food benefits, not just administrative costs. The required state share depends on the state's SNAP payment error rate:
| State Error Rate | State Required Benefit Share |
|---|
| Below 6% | 0% (no cost share) |
| 6% to 8% | 5% |
| 8% to 10% | 10% |
| Above 10% | 15% |
States with very high error rates (where the rate multiplied by 1.5 exceeds 20%) may qualify for temporary relief from the cost share requirement.
Timeline: States will use their FY 2025 or FY 2026 error rate to determine their cost share for FY 2028. Beginning FY 2029, the cost share is based on the error rate from three fiscal years prior.
Why this matters: States with high error rates face significant new costs. Many states, particularly those with complex SNAP caseloads, may respond by tightening eligibility determinations or reducing program participation to lower their error rates and avoid the cost share. The Congressional Budget Office and analysts at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have warned that this creates a structural incentive to deny benefits.
13. State Administrative Cost Sharing Increased
What changed: The federal share of SNAP administrative costs drops from 50% to 25% beginning in FY 2027. States must cover 75% of SNAP administrative expenses instead of 50%.
Why this matters: Administrative costs include staff salaries, technology systems, eligibility determination operations, and outreach. Doubling the state share increases the burden on state budgets and may result in reduced staffing, longer processing times, and fewer resources for program support.
Impact So Far in 2026
Between July 2025 and February 2026, at least 3.5 million people lost access to SNAP benefits as the initial changes took effect, according to an analysis cited by CNBC. The full impact of the cost-sharing provisions, which begin in FY 2027 and FY 2028, has not yet materialized.
PBS NewsHour reported that millions were losing SNAP benefits as stricter requirements kicked in during late 2025 and early 2026. Ohio Capital Journal reported in January 2026 that the changes could "mean the end of food assistance" for a significant share of Ohio residents.
What Has Not Changed
Income limits, asset limits (for most households), and the basic benefit formula remain unchanged. The Thrifty Food Plan base amount was not cut, only capped from future upward revisions. State agencies continue to administer SNAP using the same application and renewal processes, though they face new cost-sharing obligations starting in 2027 and 2028.
What to Do If You Are Affected
If you received a notice from your SNAP office about a work requirement or eligibility change, take these steps:
Step 1: Read the notice carefully. It should explain which change applies to you and what you need to do to maintain benefits.
Step 2: Contact your state SNAP office. Ask specifically whether you qualify for any remaining exemption. Many people affected by one change may still qualify under a different category.
Step 3: Enroll in SNAP E&T. SNAP Employment and Training programs satisfy the work requirement and are available in most states. Ask your SNAP office how to enroll.
Step 4: Request a fair hearing if you believe the determination is wrong. You have the right to appeal. Submit your request in writing and within the deadline listed on your notice.
Step 5: Check all other eligibility. Use the Benefits Navigator screener to see if you qualify for Medicaid, WIC, LIHEAP, or other programs that may help.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did OBBB SNAP changes take effect?
Most changes took effect November 1, 2025. State waivers were terminated November 2, 2025. Non-citizen eligibility changes take effect October 1, 2026. State benefit cost sharing begins FY 2028.
How much will SNAP be cut overall?
The Congressional Budget Office projects approximately $186 billion in reduced federal SNAP spending over the next decade. The Urban Institute and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities have published analyses suggesting the cuts represent the largest reduction in SNAP since the program's modern form was established.
Are SNAP benefit amounts lower now?
Not directly. The OBBB did not reduce the current Thrifty Food Plan base amounts. However, the LIHEAP/SUA restriction reduces effective benefits for some households by approximately $100 per month, and the TFP cap prevents future benefit increases beyond inflation.
Can my state still waive the work requirement?
No. All state area waivers were automatically terminated on November 2, 2025, and the OBBB prohibits issuance of new waivers. The work requirement now applies in all areas, including high-unemployment counties.
Will SNAP be eliminated entirely?
No. SNAP continues as a federal program. The OBBB reduces spending and tightens eligibility but does not eliminate the program or block future Congresses from making changes.
