FOX Business host Charles Payne breaks down the SNAP food benefits program and the impact of the government shutdown on “Making Money.”
New work requirements expand to more states on Sunday for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programor SNAP, the nation’s largest federal aid program.
Starting today, adults ages 18 to 64 without dependent children must work, participate in employment and training programs, or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to be eligible for SNAP benefits. Those who do not meet these conditions can only receive benefits for three months over a three-year period.
The new requirements extend work rules to additional groups that were previously exempt, including adults ages 55 to 64 and parents of children ages 14 or older. The law also removes prior exemptions for veterans, homeless people and people ages 18 to 24 who were in foster care when they turned 18, according to federal guidelines.
The changes arise from provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump promulgated last summer.
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“SNAP Welcomed Here” sign at the entrance to a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. (Getty Images)
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the new provisions will reduce SNAP participation by approximately 2.4 million people over the next 10 years. About a third of those affected are able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without dependent children, while about 300,000 are able-bodied adults in this age group who live with children aged 14 or older.
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Beyond work requirements, the law also makes broader changes to SNAP that will affect benefit levels for many households, including limits on future benefit increases and changes to how certain living expenses are considered in calculating monthly aid, according to the CBO. These provisions are expected to result in reduced benefit amounts over time, even for some beneficiaries who remain eligible.
A volunteer displays information about SNAP at a grocery store in Dorchester, Massachusetts, November 3, 2025. (Mel Musto/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
As a broader expansion takes effect on Sunday – including in Illinois and Ohio – implementation varies by state. Texas, for example, began implementing its new requirements in October, meaning some recipients may have already exhausted their three-month benefit window. In Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado and Georgia, for example, the three-month deadline began in November and that deadline is now expiring.
The law allows some flexibility for areas with high unemployment. Counties with unemployment rates above 10% can qualify for waivers, while Alaska and Hawaii can suspend work requirements if unemployment reaches 1.5 times the national average.
“SNAP/EBT Food Stamp Benefits Accepted” is displayed on a screen inside a Family Dollar store in Chicago on March 3, 2020. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The CBO also warned that additional changes in the law could prompt states to modify or reduce their SNAP programs in coming years, as states will be required to cover a greater share of administrative costs and benefits under certain conditions.
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Nearly 42 million Americans currently receive SNAP benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 80 percent of SNAP households have gross incomes at or below the federal poverty level.
