As of April 2026, major changes to SNAP include expanded work requirements (ages 55-64, caregivers of children over 14, and others) and a crackdown on food choices, with 18 states authorized to ban sugary drinks and candy. Colorado reversed a planned restriction, while other states are testing restrictions. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” is reducing participation by an estimated 2.4 million people, with stricter eligibility for noncitizens.
Key SNAP Updates & News
Expanded Work Requirements: Adults aged 55-64, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and caregivers of children over 14 must now work 80 hours/month or meet other requirements to maintain benefits, effective in many areas as of early 2026.
“Healthy” Restrictions Paused/Revised: While Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are pushing to remove sugary items from the program, Colorado announced it will not move forward with a planned ban on soda and candy in early April 2026.
State-Level Impacts & Legal Battles: 18 states have received USDA waivers for food restrictions. However, some states, like Illinois, are looking to reduce the impact of these federal changes.
EBT Theft Warning: A high volume of benefit thefts via skimming or phishing is occurring, often when benefits are deposited, causing severe food insecurity for families.
Federal Funding & Compliance: The administration is threatening to withhold funding from states that do not provide data on beneficiaries, citing data from states that already complied that indicated over 186,000 deceased people were receiving benefits.
Looking Ahead
Funding Changes: Starting in FY 2027, states must cover 75% of administrative costs (up from 50%), and from FY 2028, states will be responsible for a percentage of benefit costs based on payment error rates.
Reduced Participation: The changes are expected to reduce overall program participation by roughly 2.4 million people over the next 10 years.
