The biggest change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in many years started today, October 1, 2025. The new law, called President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is now in effect. These rules will change how over 42 million Americans get food help each month.
One major change is the end of the internet cost deduction. Before today, families could lower their income for SNAP by showing internet bills. Now, that option is gone. About 65% of households will lose this deduction, and many will see an average of $10 less per month in food help.
Latest News: SNAP Benefits Frozen Until 2027
The law also freezes the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to set benefit amounts. This means SNAP benefits cannot increase with rising food prices until at least October 1, 2027. Still, there are slight benefit increases this year. A single person can now get $292 each month, and a family of four can get $975.
Read More: 12 States Banning Soda, Candy & Junk Food with SNAP Benefits
Another big change is in work requirements. Adults aged 18–54 who have no dependents must now work at least 80 hours per month or join training programs. If not, they can only get SNAP for 3 months in 3 years. Starting November 1, 2025, the age limit will go up to 65, adding about 2.4 million more people to this rule.
Immigrant rules also changed. From now on, only U.S. citizens, green card holders (lawful permanent residents), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of COFA nations can apply. Refugees, asylum seekers, and trafficking survivors with T-visas are no longer eligible.
Latest News: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Brings Biggest SNAP Work Changes
Here are the main changes families will feel right away:
- No more internet deduction → lower monthly benefits for most.
- Food plan frozen → no new increases until 2027.
- Small benefit increase → $292 for one, $975 for four.
- Work rules → 80 hours per month required, age expanding to 65.
- Immigrant rules tightened → fewer groups now qualify.
Another part of the law will come later. Starting in 2028, states with high SNAP error rates (over 6%) will have to pay part of SNAP costs themselves. This has never happened before and could make state budgets tighter.
Experts say these rules mean millions of families will get less food help or even lose SNAP completely. State offices are now rushing to explain the new rules and help people understand what will happen to their benefits.
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This is called the largest cut in SNAP history by many policy experts. People who depend on SNAP should check their state’s SNAP website or call their local office to learn about how these rules affect their household.
