Overview
- Following Friday’s start of tougher enforcement, Illinois warned up to 150,000 people could lose SNAP while Nevada confirmed 28,000 benefits expired, sending pantries scrambling to meet demand.
- Preliminary USDA data show participation fell from about 42.8 million in January 2025 to 38.6 million in January 2026, including a 1.09 million drop after the November 1 compliance deadline.
- Arizona reports the steepest state decline, with roughly 400,000 to 450,000 people dropped since July 2025 as stricter rules collided with backlogs, staffing shortages, and outdated systems.
- The law now requires most able-bodied adults up to age 64 to log at least 80 hours a month in work, school, or volunteering, trims caregiver exemptions, removes prior waivers for groups like veterans and people experiencing homelessness, and ends eligibility for many noncitizens including refugees and asylees.
- The House passed a Farm Bill that would cut $187 billion from SNAP, raising the risk of deeper state budget strains and greater reliance on food banks already reporting surges in clients.