Overview
- Beginning in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill, able-bodied adults without dependents must meet at least 80 hours per month of work, training or volunteering, with the age cap raised to 64 and narrower caregiver exemptions applying only to dependents under 14.
- Exemptions previously covering people experiencing homelessness, veterans and those 24 or younger who were in foster care are removed, and several noncitizen categories lose SNAP eligibility.
- USDA published a 2026 state-by-state schedule restricting certain SNAP purchases such as sugary drinks, energy drinks, candy and desserts, with rollouts spanning January through October.
- Examples from the USDA calendar include Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia beginning restrictions in January; Colorado in March; Texas and Virginia in April; Arkansas and Tennessee in July; Hawaii in August; South Carolina on August 31; North Dakota on September 1; and Missouri on October 1.
- For New York, USDA’s January 2026 deposit schedule ties availability to the last digit of the case number from the 1st through the 9th, while New York City distributes benefits during the first two weeks of the month excluding holidays and Sundays.