Overview

• The Congressional Budget Office estimates the new law will slash SNAP funding by $186 billion through 2034, cutting federal support by about 20% and causing 22.3 million families to lose an average of $146 per month
• The reconciliation package broadens work requirements to include adults ages 55–64, parents of children 14 and older, and veterans, potentially triggering further benefit losses for those who fail to meet reporting rules
• Under the law, states with SNAP payment error rates of 6% or higher must pay 5–15% of benefit costs, prompting concerns that some may reduce benefits or drop out of the program
• Provisions take effect immediately to bar undocumented immigrants from SNAP, adding urgency to state efforts to address growing need
• Food banks in Illinois, California and other regions are bracing for sharp increases in clients, with some expecting tens of thousands more households to seek assistance