Key Takeaways
- Expanded Work Requirements: Under the new law, all able-bodied adults under 65 must work, study, or train at least 80 hours per month to keep receiving benefits. Key exemptions, including for veterans and the homeless, have been removed.
- State Accountability and Cost Sharing: Starting in 2028, states with high error rates in SNAP payments will be forced to cover part of the program’s costs — up to 15% for chronic inefficiency. Only seven states currently meet the new standards.
- Fiscal Responsibility Restored: The overhaul is expected to save taxpayers $186 billion over ten years by reducing waste, tightening eligibility, and shifting costs away from Washington and back to the states.
A major shake-up is coming to America’s largest food assistance program. Beginning November 1, states must fully comply with the One Big Beautiful Bill, President Donald Trump’s sweeping reform package that aims to restore accountability, cut waste, and get more Americans back to work.
The law, which passed over the summer, revamps the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — formerly known as food stamps — and trims federal spending by an estimated $186 billion over the next decade. While supporters say it rewards work and restores fiscal responsibility, critics warn that millions could lose benefits.
The most controversial provision expands work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). Previously, only adults aged 18 to 54 had to show proof of work or training for at least 80 hours a month to remain eligible. Now, anyone under 65 must meet those same standards — and exemptions have been narrowed. Parents with dependents under 14, veterans, and the homeless must now show they’re working, studying, or training.
Meanwhile, the law creates a new exemption for Native Americans and Tribal members — a recognition of sovereignty and economic disparities in Indian Country.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also introduces state accountability measures to crack down on administrative waste. Beginning in 2028, states with high error rates in SNAP payments will have to pay between 5% and 15% of program costs. Only seven states currently meet the new efficiency standards.
While Democrats call the changes “harsh,” Trump administration officials frame them as a return to common sense. “This is about rewarding work, protecting taxpayers, and restoring fairness,” one senior official said.
With unemployment near historic lows, the administration says it’s time for a system that supports independence — not dependency — and brings integrity back to the safety net.