New SNAP rules take effect Oct. 1, raising fears of more benefit cuts

On October 1, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see new rules that could raise concerns about further benefit cuts. Lori Covelli, a 53-year-old unemployed social worker from Kenosha, Wisconsin, recently lost her food stamp benefits as she did not meet the program's work requirements. Covelli, who was hoping to regain aid when she turned 54, learned that the work requirement has been extended to age 64 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed by President Trump in July 2025.

In August, Covelli received a letter informing her that she would no longer be eligible for SNAP benefits. Covelli is currently applying to about 10 jobs weekly, but has not found employment yet. She is unsure how she will manage financially, especially with rising costs for groceries and daily necessities.

Since the OBBBA was enacted, approximately 5.7 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits, according to a recent Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) analysis. SNAP enrollment is now at its lowest level since 2019. Experts predict that more people will drop out of the program as additional changes to SNAP under the 2025 tax and spending law come into effect.

Starting in October 2027, states with high SNAP payment error rates will also have to pay up to 15% of benefits, a cost that the federal government previously covered entirely. The more stringent work requirements and funding changes are creating confusion and application backlogs in state SNAP agencies, causing harm to those the program was designed to assist.