New Food Stamp Law—One Big Beautiful Bill SNAP Changes Explained

The biggest change to food stamps in decades took effect in 2025–2026. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) — Public Law 119-21 — into law. The legislation makes sweeping changes to SNAP (food stamps) affecting eligibility, work requirements, benefit amounts, and state costs. Approximately 42 million Americans receive SNAP, and most will feel some impact from these changes.

This guide explains every major SNAP change, when each takes effect, who is affected, and what you can do.

Summary: What Changed for Food Stamps

Change 1 — Work Requirements Expanded to Age 64

This is the most impactful change for current SNAP recipients.

Before the OBBBA, SNAP work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) applied to adults aged 18 to 54. The new law raises the upper age limit to 64, effective January 1, 2026.

What this means:

Adults aged 55 to 64 who were previously exempt from SNAP work requirements must now work, volunteer, or participate in approved training for at least 80 hours per month (equivalent to 20 hours per week) to receive SNAP beyond three months in a 36-month period.

Who is still exempt:

• Adults 65 and older
• Adults with a physical or mental disability that prevents them from working
• Parents or caretakers responsible for a child under age 14 (reduced from under 18 previously — see Change 2)
• Pregnant individuals
• Adults in drug or alcohol treatment programs
• Students enrolled at least half-time

The impact: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates approximately 800,000 adults aged 55–64 will lose SNAP benefits in a typical month as a result of this change. Many in this age group have work-limiting health conditions or face age-related employment challenges but do not qualify for a formal disability exemption.

What to do: If you are 55–64 and currently receive SNAP, confirm whether you meet the work requirement (80 hours/month) or qualify for an exemption. Contact your state SNAP office to document any applicable exemption.

Change 2 — Dependent Child Exemption Lowered to Age 14

Previously: Adults living with a dependent child of any age were exempt from ABAWD work requirements.

Now: The exemption only applies to adults with a dependent child under age 14. Parents with children aged 14 and older are now subject to work requirements.

Who is affected: Parents and caretakers of teenagers who previously relied on the dependent child exemption to avoid work requirements. A single parent with a 15-year-old, for example, is now subject to the 80-hour monthly work requirement.

Change 3 — Benefit Amounts Capped (Thrifty Food Plan)

Before the OBBBA: The Thrifty Food Plan — the formula that determines maximum SNAP benefit amounts — could be periodically re-evaluated and updated based on actual food costs and nutrition science. A 2021 re-evaluation increased benefits by about 21%.

Now: The OBBBA limits future re-evaluations of the Thrifty Food Plan from resulting in increases. Future annual adjustments will be tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) — an inflation measure — rather than food cost analysis.

What this means for your benefits:

• Benefit amounts are not being cut immediately
• Future increases are capped at the CPI rate rather than being adjusted to actual food costs
• The CBO estimates the average SNAP benefit will be approximately $14/month less by 2034 than it would have been without this cap

Change 4 — State Cost Share Increases

Before: The federal government and states shared SNAP administrative costs 50/50.

Now (effective October 1, 2026): States must absorb more of the administrative costs — 75% of certain costs. This creates financial pressure on state SNAP programs that could lead some states to reduce administrative capacity, which may slow processing times.

Change 5 — Immigrant Eligibility Cuts

The OBBBA eliminates SNAP eligibility for several categories of legal immigrants who were previously eligible:

• Refugees — no longer eligible for SNAP (previously eligible after entry)
• Asylees — no longer eligible
• Trafficking survivors (T visa holders) — no longer eligible
• Other humanitarian protections — various categories of immigrants who have long had SNAP access have lost eligibility

Lawful permanent residents with 5+ years of U.S. residency, U.S. citizens, and certain other qualified immigrants remain eligible.

Change 6 — State Food Purchase Restrictions (Separate from OBBBA)

The OBBBA itself does NOT ban junk food, soda, or candy from SNAP. What you can buy with food stamps federally did not change under this law.

However, separately from the OBBBA, the USDA has approved an expanding number of state waivers that allow individual states to restrict certain food purchases:

As of 2026, more than 22 states have received approval to restrict some food purchases. States with active restrictions include:

• Nebraska — soda and energy drinks banned
• West Virginia — soda and energy drinks banned
• Oklahoma — soft drinks and candy banned
• Utah — soft drinks banned
• Louisiana — candy and soft drinks banned
• Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Texas — various restrictions on candy, sugary drinks, and other items

Restrictions vary significantly by state and take effect at different dates. See our state-specific ban pages for details:

• Nebraska SNAP soda ban
• West Virginia SNAP soda ban
• Oklahoma SNAP soft drinks and candy ban
• Utah SNAP soft drink ban
• Louisiana SNAP candy and soft drinks ban

Who Is Most Affected by the New Food Stamp Law?

Adults aged 55–64 without qualifying disabilities or young children — this group faces the most significant new restriction. Previously exempt from work requirements, they must now demonstrate 80 hours/month of work, training, or volunteering.

Parents of teenagers — the dependent child exemption now ends when a child turns 14, not 18. Single parents of teens now face work requirements many did not face before.

Refugees and asylees — previously eligible legal immigrants who have lost eligibility entirely.

All SNAP recipients long-term — the Thrifty Food Plan cap means benefits will grow more slowly than food prices over time, gradually reducing purchasing power.

What Has NOT Changed

It’s important to know what the new law did not change:

• What you can buy with SNAP federally — the OBBBA did not restrict food purchases. Soda, candy, and other items remain purchasable under federal SNAP rules.
• Income limits — the basic income eligibility thresholds were not changed by the OBBBA
• The SNAP application process — you still apply through your state SNAP agency
• EBT card system — how benefits are delivered has not changed
• Benefit amounts for current recipients in the short term — benefits are not being cut immediately; the Thrifty Food Plan cap affects future growth, not current amounts

What to Do if You’re Affected

If you are 55–64 and subject to new work requirements:

• Contact your state SNAP office to understand the requirements in your state
• Document any work, volunteer, or training hours you’re completing
• If you have a medical condition that limits your ability to work, ask your doctor to document it and submit it to your SNAP case worker as evidence for a disability exemption
• See SNAP work requirements and who is exempt from SNAP work requirements for the complete exemption list

If you’re worried about losing eligibility:

• Check your current eligibility with the SNAP eligibility calculator
• Recertify on time — missing your recertification date accelerates any gap in benefits
• Report any changes in your household or income promptly using how to report changes to SNAP

If you are a refugee or asylee who has lost eligibility:

• Contact an immigration legal services organization for guidance on your specific status
• Dial 211 for local food bank and food assistance resources — food banks provide free groceries without any immigration or SNAP eligibility requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new food stamp law?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, is the most significant change to SNAP in decades. Key changes include expanding work requirements to adults up to age 64 (previously age 54), lowering the dependent child exemption to children under 14 (previously any age), capping future benefit increases, increasing state cost shares, and removing eligibility for refugees, asylees, and certain other legal immigrants.

Did the new law cut food stamp benefits?

Not immediately. Current benefit amounts were not reduced. However, the OBBBA limits future increases by capping the Thrifty Food Plan re-evaluation — meaning benefits will grow more slowly than actual food costs over time. The CBO projects benefits will be about $14/month less by 2034 than they would have been without the cap.

Do I now have to work to get food stamps?

Work requirements have existed for SNAP for decades. The new law expands them to apply to more people. If you are an able-bodied adult aged 18–64 without a qualifying exemption, you must work, volunteer, or participate in approved training for 80 hours per month to receive SNAP beyond three months in any 36-month period. Exemptions include disability, caring for a child under 14, pregnancy, and others.

Can I still buy soda with food stamps?

Under federal SNAP rules, yes — the OBBBA did not change what foods you can purchase. However, more than 22 states have received separate USDA waivers to restrict certain food purchases including soda, candy, and energy drinks. Check whether your state has a ban in effect.

When do the SNAP changes take effect?

Work requirement expansion: January 1, 2026. Thrifty Food Plan cap: October 1, 2025. Immigrant eligibility cuts: January 1, 2026. State cost share changes: October 1, 2026. Some states have received delays or waivers for portions of the implementation.

For the full breakdown of all SNAP changes, see Big Beautiful Bill food stamps changes. To check whether you still qualify under the new rules, use the SNAP eligibility calculator. For work requirement details, see SNAP work requirements and who is exempt from SNAP work requirements.