Key Takeaways:
- Only seniors and disabled households with $20+ energy help qualify for full HCSUA
- 29,000 Oregon families lose average $58/month in benefits
- Internet bills no longer count as shelter costs
- SNAP cuts expected to save $186B but reduce help for millions
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 has brought new SNAP rule changes that are now cutting benefits for many families. The changes focus on the Utility Allowance, which is used to help calculate how much food help people get through the EBT card.
Before, if a household got any energy help from programs like LIHEAP or state “Heat and Eat,” they would qualify for the full Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance (HCSUA). Now, the rules are much tighter.
Only families with at least one elderly (60+) or disabled member who also get more than $20 in yearly energy help can still qualify for the full allowance. This means many low-income households without seniors or disabled members are losing important deductions.
In Oregon, the impact is already being felt:
- About 29,000 households are losing the full utility allowance
- The average benefit cut is $58 per month
- Around 9,600 households got letters in mid-October telling them benefits would drop on November 1, 2025
- Another 20,000 households will see cuts during their recertification process
The rule officially started on July 4, 2025. States must now apply it for new SNAP applications and for people already on benefits when they renew.
Another big change is that internet bills no longer count as shelter costs. Families can’t use them in their shelter deduction or as part of the Standard Utility Allowance anymore. This applies to everyone, no matter their age or disability.
These SNAP cuts are part of a much larger effort to lower federal spending. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the bill will cut about $186 billion from SNAP between now and 2034. That means less help for families already struggling with high food prices, housing costs, and utility bills.
Advocates warn that the new utility allowance restrictions will make it harder for families to keep food on the table. Many who depended on the shelter deduction will now see their EBT food stamp balance go down at a time when grocery prices are already high.
