MAGAs Were Wrong About Food Stamp Cuts

MAGA politicians lied, as usual. Trump followers believed every bit of it, as usual. The left said: millions of Americans are going to lose food stamps. The right said: People will not lose their benefits. The left is scare-mongering. The left was telling the truth, and I hope MAGAs find crow delicious.

Food stamp cuts will be rolled out in several phases over the next several years. The first phases go into affect as soon as October 1, 2025, although some states began implementing the changes already this month (September 2025). Millions of working poor American citizens, elderly and disabled are losing all or part of their benefits.

Don’t believe me? You can find the same sources I did. Search out the SNAP (food stamps/food assistance) sections of H.R.1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act. You can look at the Letter Sent to the States and follow the links. You can also go to your state’s HHS website. Some states have already posted the updates. They all should be updated by Oct. 1. They explain the changes in language that people can understand.

More changes will be phased in for the next few years. It will become increasingly difficult to qualify for food stamps. For example, scheduled to take effect in fiscal year 2027, the federal government’s share of SNAP administrative costs will decrease from 50% to 25%. Consequently, the states’ share will increase from 50% to 75%.

Below is a summary of the changes I have tracked down so far. If I find new information, I will update this post.

Energy Costs Matter

Until now, the amount paid for utilities has been deducted from an applicant’s income. The remainder has been considered net income, which is used to calculate the SNAP allowance that a household can receive.

Now, many families will not qualify for the full deduction based on utility costs. For example, if a family is paying $500 a month for utilities, until now, the entire $500 would be deducted to calculate their net income. Going forward, maybe only $300 or $400 will be deducted and that family will lose part of their food stamps. (the calculation will vary according to many factors; this is only a rough simplified example).

If there are seniors 60+ or disabled in the household, a higher amount will be allowed for the deduction, but many elderly and disabled will still see cuts in their benefits.

Millions of households will lose all or part of their food stamps, but with the convoluted new way that deductions will be calculated, a small percentage of recipients will actually receive slightly more.

Third party energy assistance will now count as income, unless there is an elderly or disabled person in the household. This means, if a family is about to get a utility cut off, and a charity organization, church, or any other third party pays the bill, even if the third party makes the payment directly to the utility company, it will count as income. At the same time, the utility that was paid for by the third party cannot be counted as deductible when calculating the amount of food stamps that the family can get.

That’s a double whammy. The money a family never had possession of is income, but the amount that was paid for the utility can’t be declared an expense since someone else paid it. This is going to hit the working poor hard.

Stricter Work Requirements

Work requirements have already existed for decades, but the regulations are becoming stricter and fewer exemptions will be allowed.

People who can’t get disability because they are only partially disabled are now getting cut off. Until now, a certified doctor’s letter stating they can only work in a limited capacity was enough to let them get food stamps, but not enough to get disability (because they can do *some* work). They now MUST work 20 hours a week to receive food stamps. Many of them cannot work 20 hours, either because they’re physically unable to, or they can’t find a job that both accommodates their disabilities and offers 20 hours a week.

Until now, children up to 18 years of age did not have to report their income to the food stamp office as long as they’re still attending school. That age limit is being dropped to 14. The government legalese is confusing on that point, but the best I can determine, any money that a child 14 and up earns has to be reported to the food stamp office. If I’m misunderstanding this, I’ll update this statement when I find clarification.

Able-bodied adults over the age of 54 used to be exempt from the 20 hour a week requirement. HR 1 is raising the cap, and now work requirements apply to anyone under the age of 65. Of course, this doesn’t apply if the applicant gets disability benefits like Social Security, SSI, or VA.

The 80 hours a month work requirement can be waived in certain circumstances, such as:

• If the applicant is pregnant (Some states will only exempt if working during pregnancy will be dangerous medically)
• If the applicant volunteers, or participates in a job training program at least 80 hours a month
• Unavailability of care for children aged through 11
• The applicant must care for someone who is sick or disabled
• The applicant has a health problem, illness or temporary disability that keeps them from working
• The applicant is in a drug or alcohol treatment program
• The applicant receives unemployment benefits
• Unavailability of transportation (distance to the job prohibits walking and there is no other means of transportation)
• At least half time enrollment in a recognized school, training program, or institution of higher education requires the primary wage earner to quit a job
• The applicant’s work is at a place subject to a strike or lock-out

One of the most shocking rules of all: if the head of household is not working 80 hours a month, and they do not qualify for at least one exemption, the entire household loses their food stamps until the head of household can demonstrate they are actively meeting the work requirements. “Entire household” means that even the children in that family will not be receiving a food stamp allowance. The family will be reinstated after a month of meeting requirements.

Keep in mind, states have a certain amount of latitude within the federal rules, so exact exemptions and requirements will vary some from state to state. Richer states will have some leeway for relaxing restrictions. Poor states are likely to have stronger restrictions.

It’s Even Worse Than it Looks

Food banks have received significant federal funding cuts, even as demand has been rising. Food banks are scrambling to fill the gap, but some pantries are being forced to close down, or cut the number of people they can help.

Schools have also have received federal funding cuts to their meal programs.

Children in families receiving SNAP automatically qualify for free lunches at school, but if the family loses their benefits due to the stricter rules, the children in those families may have a difficult time qualifying for the free lunches.

As more new rules are scheduled to roll out over the next several years, we’re going to see more hungry people and more homeless.

A Few Links

The letter sent to the states advising them on the changes.

The following two USDA pages are directed to the states: SNAP Provisions and OBBB Policy Memos

The following two consumer information sheets on the USDA website are “in the process of updating” with the changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. They should have the updates posted by October 1. Eligibility and Work Requirements

Urban Institute: Preliminary Research Findings

I will update this page if and as I find relevant information.