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SNAP Screener

Ben Molin • Updated May 14th, 2026

Is SNAP (Food Stamps) Being Cut?

In 2025 there were some major changes to SNAP rules that later took effect in November 2025 and early 2026. Some states in 2026 have also been making changes around which foods can be purchased with SNAP - mostly restricting candy and soda.

However the answer to, "did the government make a new change that made my SNAP benefit amount decrease?" is very likely NO. If you were receiving SNAP, but now receive less in benefits, it's likely just routine adjustments as your household's income and expenses change (as determined by your state's SNAP agency).

While effectively there were some cuts to SNAP with increased work requirements and reduced future increases to benefit amounts, recent changes are more often making people not get SNAP at all rather than reducing benefit amounts.

Here are some answers regarding what's happening with recent SNAP changes that may affect you regarding your SNAP eligibility, benefit amount, and what you can buy.

1. SNAP Work Requirements Will Apply to More People

Essentially, a lot more people will now have to meet a 20-hour-per week work requirement to continue to receive SNAP benefits. This is the Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirement, also known as the "time limit." Your SNAP caseworker can help you figure out if this affects you.

If you don't meet the work requirements but need to, you are limited to three months of benefits every three years. This means some people who were getting SNAP are no longer be able to continue to receive it. This change is already in effect in most states and areas that it will apply.

2. SNAP Benefit Amounts: Not Really Changing

Overall, SNAP benefit amounts aren't really changing. There is no new big policy that says people are going to get less than they were before (one exception below). The biggest change is the work requirements above, where people will no longer be able to get SNAP at all, rather than households going from $300 to $24 in benefits for example.

This doesn't mean your household's benefit amounts can't change in the future, as benefit amounts are based on your income, expenses, and other factors. If your benefits did drop recently, it's likely the state has determined there was a change of your household's situation - something that's always been a part of how they administer SNAP and calculate benefits.

Additionally, every year in October there are some inflation and other minor adjustments to the SNAP formula - not necessarily a cut, but almost everyone's benefit amount would likely change by at least a few dollars.

The only households that likely saw a direct decrease in benefits due to "SNAP changes" in the last year were households affected by a recalculation of who can claim allowances for Heating and Cooling expenses. This would have happened around November 2025 for households where all these applied:
  1. You did not pay a heating or cooling bill separate from your rent AND
  2. You did not have anyone over 60 or with a disability in your household AND
  3. You were receiving a LIHEAP benefit over $20 at least once per year (you might have gotten $20.01 or $21 as cash on your EBT card)
This decrease would only have affected about 2% of households on SNAP. Read our full analysis here.

3. SNAP Can No Longer Be Used for Candy and Soda in Some States

Many states are now restricting the purchase of items like candy and soda. The exact rules depend on your state, however the new restrictions are in about half of states. Click here for official guidance of which states are adding restrictions and when.