SNAP enrollment fell sharply by May 2026 as new federal rules took effect, but not everyone leaving the program did so for the same reason. The 2025 law tightened eligibility for some people; paperwork, verification and missed deadlines can also interrupt benefits. Preliminary national figures show the decline, but do not establish how much came from each cause—or whether any particular person was wrongly removed.
What changed in SNAP eligibility?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 expanded work requirements to additional adults and changed some eligibility rules. The provisions described by the Associated Press affect some adults ages 55–64 and certain parents whose youngest child is 14–17. They do not mean every SNAP recipient must newly meet a work requirement.
| Issue | Before the 2025 law | Under the changes described |
|---|---|---|
| Adults subject to expanded work requirements | Some adults were already subject to work requirements; the specific prior rules are not stated in the available account. | Requirements extend to additional adults, including some ages 55–64 and certain parents whose children are ages 14–17. |
| Exemptions described | Some groups, including homeless people, had exemptions. | The described provisions retain exemptions for adults 65 and older, parents with children younger than 14, and people with health limitations. Some earlier exemptions, including for homeless people, were removed. |
The table summarizes the provisions as reported by the Associated Press; it is not a complete eligibility checklist. Rollout timing differs by state, and a person’s household composition, age, health circumstances and other details matter. For current rules in a specific case, consult the state SNAP agency.
How much has participation fallen?
SNAP remains a large nationwide program. USDA’s Economic Research Service says an average of 42.1 million people participated each month in fiscal year 2025. That year, 12.3% of U.S. residents received SNAP in an average month, with state rates ranging from 4.7% to 21.9%.
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| Measure | Figure | Period and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly participants | 42.1 million | USDA Economic Research Service, FY 2025. |
| Participants | 42.2 million | May 2025, preliminary USDA data reported by the Associated Press. |
| Participants | 36.6 million | May 2026, preliminary USDA data reported by the Associated Press; the count may be revised. |
The May figures amount to a decline of more than 13% from May 2025 to May 2026. They are a month-to-month comparison, not a final count of people who lost benefits specifically because of the law. In FY 2025, federal SNAP spending was $101.7 billion, and the average monthly benefit was $187.94 per participant, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service.
Why are people losing SNAP benefits?
There are at least two distinct pathways out of the program: someone may no longer qualify under the rules, or an eligible person’s case may be disrupted during application or renewal. The Associated Press reported both people who no longer meet tightened requirements and advocates’ accounts of recipients losing benefits after missed deadlines or missing documents. It also described strained state agencies and, in Arizona, an official’s account of unprecedented call volume and verification hurdles.
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Those reports show that administrative difficulties are part of the story, but they do not establish a national rate of wrongful disenrollment. As of the Associated Press’s August 21, 2026 report, it was too early to determine precisely how many people left because they no longer qualified, how many encountered paperwork or processing problems, or how much other factors contributed. The available national figures do not resolve that breakdown.
USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that in FY 2024, 28% of SNAP households had earned income; among SNAP households with children, 54% had earned income. SNAP households are not all alike, and those figures do not determine any individual household’s eligibility.
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Are SNAP payment errors the same as fraud?
No. USDA reported a national SNAP payment error rate of 10.62% for FY 2025, representing $10.1 billion in improper payments. USDA defines the measure as the accuracy of states’ eligibility and benefit determinations; it includes both overpayments and underpayments. It is not a fraud rate or a count of people intentionally breaking the rules.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins called the figures “further proof that state accountability is severely lacking in SNAP” in USDA’s June 24, 2026 release. That is the administration’s characterization of the measure. USDA said states at or above the 6% threshold face new cost-sharing provisions and corrective-action requirements; it said cost sharing generally begins October 1, 2027.
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The Associated Press reported that 41,476 people were disqualified from SNAP for fraud out of 42,176,946 participants in USDA’s FY 2023 figures—less than 1% of participants. That is a historical count, not a current fraud rate, and it does not explain the later participation decline. The administration has cited fraud and economic improvement as reasons for falling enrollment; the Associated Press’s fact-check reported that experts viewed new requirements and reduced access as more likely primary explanations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if your SNAP application is denied or benefits stop
If you think a SNAP decision is wrong, the next step is to get guidance for your state and your case. Federal USDA eligibility guidance says people who disagree with a case decision may request a fair hearing. Procedures and deadlines vary by state, so do not rely on a general deadline found elsewhere.
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- Read the notice. Check the reason given for a denial, reduction or closure, and note any deadline or instructions printed on it.
- Contact your state SNAP office. Ask what information or verification is missing, how to correct the case, and how to request a SNAP fair hearing. Use the state agency’s current instructions.
- Keep records. Save notices and copies of documents you submit, and note when and how you contacted the agency.
USDA guidance explains general eligibility and the fair-hearing right, but only the state agency can provide current case-specific instructions. An EBT card or benefit balance alone does not establish whether a household remains eligible; check the case notice or ask the state agency about the status of your benefits.
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