Food banks say new SNAP rules are already cutting benefits for some families. Here is what is changing and why summer could be tougher.
Food banks across North Texas say they are already seeing the impact of sweeping changes to the nation’s largest food assistance program, as millions of families nationwide face reduced access to benefits under a new federal law.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is undergoing significant changes under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was signed into law last summer. The legislation cuts an estimated $187 billion from SNAP over the next decade, expands work requirements for recipients, and shifts more costs to states.shows SNAP participation across the country dropped by about 8% between July 2025 and early 2026 — a decline of more than 3 million people losing access to the program.
“The changes from the legislation from HR one last year are just really starting to be felt,” said Clarissa Clarke with the North Texas Food Bank. “So people may be losing their benefits because they don’t realize the changes. ” One of the biggest shifts involves expanded work requirements. Previously, able-bodied adults without dependents had to meet work requirements up to age 54.
Under the new law, that threshold extends to age 64. Requirements for parents have also tightened, lowering the age of children whose caregivers may be exempt. Clarke said those changes can be confusing, and in some cases, people may be losing benefits simply because they are unaware of the new rules.
“You had to either do 20 hours of work a week, volunteer, or do job training. And now that’s gone up to the age of 64,” she said.
“And so people may be losing their benefits because they don’t realize the changes. ” The timing is also raising concerns. Food banks typically see higher demand in the summer months, when children lose access to free or reduced-price school meals.
“We always see a bit of an uptick in the summer, because the kids are out of school,” Clarke said. “There are some feeding programs … but we do see more at our food pantries. ”“SNAP helps our communities so much, and it’s something that we can’t really make up the difference for,” Clarke said.
“We are really advocating to keep SNAP programs strong for those who need it. ” Beyond impact on families, state leaders are also facing new financial pressures tied to the law. For the first time, states may be required to shoulder a portion of SNAP benefit costs depending on their error rates — a measure tied to administrative accuracy, not fraud.
The state could face an estimated $718 million obligation if its error rate falls within a certain range, though final figures won’t be determined until next year.
“It’s really difficult to plan for the state to budget for these costs, not knowing what the error rate is,” Clarke said, noting that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is working to improve accuracy. Error rates can include both overpayments and underpayments and are often tied to administrative challenges, including complex applications, processing delays, and staffing shortages, to sort through all the paperwork.
Applicants must complete a lengthy process — including a detailed application, interviews, and periodic reviews — which Clarke said can be difficult for many families navigating the system. At the same time, advocates are working to ensure policymakers understand the distinction between errors and fraud.has launched a new data tool within its Congressional District Health Dashboard . The tool allows users to monitor SNAP participation changes over time across congressional districts, alongside dozens of other health and economic indicators.
“The data is going to allow us to establish a baseline and then to be able to see changes that happen over time,” said Jamie Bussel, a senior program officer with the foundation. “So it’s going to be, we hope, a really important resource for the public and policymakers. ” The stakes extend beyond individual households, advocates say, noting that SNAP also serves as an economic driver.
The program supports local grocers, farmers, and small businesses by injecting federal dollars into communities. Feeding Texas, a statewide network of food banks, is expected to provide additional insight during a media briefing on Wednesday morning, where experts will outline how the law could affect families and the state’s economy ahead of the next legislative session.
“When the SNAP benefits were delayed last fall, we saw a huge increase in need,” Clarke said. “We had to go and buy extra food. … We can only handle so much. ” As lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session, advocates say the decisions made in the coming months could shape how effectively Texas responds to growing food insecurity — and whether families continue to have access to one of the country’s most critical safety net programs.
Please follow us on Google to support us United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New York governor predicts fewer will pay new housing taxKathy Hochul's revised NYC pied-à-terre tax will affect fewer homes, targeting luxury second residences.
Read more »
New Line And Warner Bros. Picture Animation Set Directors For New ‘Hello Kitty’ MovieSanrio’s Hello Kitty feature from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation sets directors David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima
Read more »
New name, new upgrades: $10 million headed to Donald J. Trump International AirportWest Palm Beach's newly renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport will receive $10 million in federal funding to expand family-friendly features.
Read more »
Montana to implement SNAP junk-food purchase restrictions — See what other states have bansMontana is the latest state that will implement restrictions on food purchases by SNAP recipients and ban them from using their taxpayer-funded food assistance benefit to purchase junk food, joining 22 other states to implement bans.
Read more »