SNAP Changes Under the Federal Budget Reconciliation Law
The federal budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), passed in July, makes sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
These provisions shift significant costs to states, eliminate eligibility for many lawfully present immigrants, expand harsh work reporting requirements, and reduce benefit amounts. These changes represent a profound reduction in federal support for food security, threatening the sustainability of our largest and most effective anti-hunger program.
This page will be updated as more details become available from USDA and NYSOTDA.
Impacts in New York
H.R.1:
Shifts costs to states
Effective: October 2027-2029, depending on the state’s error rate
Shifts an estimated $1.2 billion in SNAP benefit costs each year to New York’s state budget, potentially forcing cuts to SNAP or other critical programs.
Cuts administrative funding
Effective: October 2026
Reduces federal funding for SNAP administration by half, adding $200 million in annual costs to the state and counties.
Restricts immigrant eligibility
Effective: pending implementation guidance
Jeopardizes SNAP eligibility for more than 40,000 refugees, asylees, and other immigrants lawfully residing in New York. SNAP eligibility for immigrants was already strict; undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SNAP, and many lawfully present immigrants must wait five years before applying. The bill further restricts eligibility to only U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens.
Limits waivers to work reporting requirements
Effective: In effect; Note: Implementation timelines may change following a recent court order regarding ABAWD waivers. Visit NYSOTDA’s SNAP work requirements page for the latest updates.
Severely limits waivers that allowed states–including New York–to waive harsh work reporting requirements in areas with insufficient jobs. Without a waiver, all SNAP recipients considered “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWD) can only receive SNAP for three months in a three-year period unless they document sufficient work hours. Previously, states could request temporary waivers based on a range of metrics showing insufficient jobs; the bill limits these waivers to areas with an unemployment rate over ten percent.
Expands work reporting requirements and removes certain exemptions
Effective: In effect
Adds 125,000 older adults and 80,000 adults with school-age children to work reporting requirements, putting more than 300,000 additional New Yorkers at risk of losing food assistance. The bill also eliminates exemptions to ABAWD work reporting requirements for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and youth aging out of foster care.
Reduces benefit amounts
Effective: In effect
Restricts updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, which determines SNAP benefit amounts, and limits utility deductions used in households’ SNAP budget, ultimately reducing benefits.
Cuts SNAP Outreach
Effective: October 2026
Halves federal funding for SNAP outreach and application assistance, jeopardizing the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program, New York’s network of SNAP assistors managed by Hunger Solutions New York, and other targeted outreach efforts. Without state investment in FY2027 to fill the gap, SNAP assistance will be significantly reduced amid unprecedented changes to the program.
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