Are SNAP Benefits Now Frozen? What Recipients Need to Know About HR-1
5 min read
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, is facing its most significant changes in decades under the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1). For the nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits, these changes will fundamentally alter how the program works, who qualifies, and how much assistance families receive.
So lots of people are asking: Are SNAP benefits frozen? The short answer: yes. The increase of SNAP benefits is frozen for five years. Beyond that, most of the Act's changes will make it harder to get and keep SNAP benefits, with expanded work requirements, reduced state flexibility, and stricter benefit calculations. The law also shifts more financial responsibility to states, potentially reducing the program's capacity nationwide.
Here's everything SNAP recipients need to know about the changes taking effect in 2025 and beyond.
And to keep up with the ever-changing benefits landscape, sign up for BenefitKarma now; it's free.
1. Work Requirements Get Much Stricter
To receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, most individuals aged 16-59 who are able to work must register for work (which means to register with their state's employment office as available to work), accept a suitable job offer, not voluntarily quit or reduce work hours below 30 per week without good cause, and participate in SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs if assigned.
Now, "able-bodied adults without dependents" (ABAWDs) aged 18-64 will have further requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, needing to work, volunteer, or participate in a work program for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits for more than three months in a 36-month period.
Age Range Expands
The most significant change affects work requirements for "able-bodied adults." Previously, work requirements applied to people aged 16-59. Under HR-1, this expands that to ages 18-64, bringing thousands more people under work mandates. This particularly affects older adults who may struggle to find employment as they approach retirement age.
Exemptions Nearly Eliminated
The law dramatically reduces who can be exempt from work requirements. Currently, exemptions protect:
Parents with children under 18
Homeless individuals
Certain foster youth
Under HR-1, these changes take effect:
Parents with children 7 and older lose their exemption; only parents with children under 7 remain exempt.
Veterans lose their exemption in 2030; the temporary protection expires.
Homeless individuals lose their exemption in 2030; their temporary protection expires.
Foster youth lose their exemption in 2030; their temporary protection expires.
Only those 65 and older maintain permanent exemptions (but again, the age threshold increased from 60 to 65).
State Flexibility Restricted
States currently can waive work requirements in areas with high unemployment or insufficient job opportunities. HR-1 restricts these waivers to counties with unemployment rates exceeding 10%, eliminating "insufficient jobs" as valid grounds for exemption.
States also lose flexibility in exempting people from work requirements. Previously, states could exempt up to 8% of their SNAP recipients from work requirements. This drops to just 1% under the new law.
2. Benefit Calculations Become More Restrictive
Generally speaking, benefit calculations determine an individual or household's eligibility for food assistance and the amount of aid they receive by comparing their income and resources against established needs and allowances, with deductions often applied for certain expenses like housing, utilities, or medical costs. The goal is to ensure that the benefit amount helps bridge the gap between a household's available funds and their defined basic needs.
HR-1 makes several changes that would reduce SNAP benefit amounts for many families by limiting how benefits are calculated and updated. These restrictions affect both the baseline benefit calculations and the additional deductions that help determine final benefit levels.
Food Cost Updates Limited
The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which determines SNAP benefit amounts, faces new restrictions. Currently, the TFP can be updated as needed to keep pace with rising food costs.
Under HR-1, updates can only occur every five years, and any updates must be cost-neutral, meaning increases in one area must be offset by decreases elsewhere. This makes it much harder for SNAP benefits to keep up with inflation and rising food prices.
Utility Deductions Reduced
The law restricts how utility costs factor into benefit calculations. Internet costs are now explicitly excluded; households can no longer include internet expenses in their utility allowance. And the other utilities face more restrictive guidelines for how you calculate those deductions. These changes will lower benefit amounts for families who previously qualified for utility deductions.
3. Administrative Changes Impact Program Capacity
One of the most significant behind-the-scenes changes affects program funding. Currently, the federal government pays 50% of SNAP administrative costs, with states covering the other half. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the federal share drops to 25%, requiring states to pay 75% of administrative costs.
This shift will likely force states to:
Reduce program capacity
Slow application processing
Cut staff at local offices
Divert funds from other state priorities
Stricter Verification Requirements
The law introduces more frequent eligibility checks and stricter verification procedures. States must check the Death Master File quarterly to identify and disenroll deceased enrollees, while other verification processes will become more rigorous.
4. Program Cuts and Eliminations
Programs within SNAP that promote nutrition and support at-risk populations are going away.
Nutrition Education Ends
SNAP-Ed, the nutrition education component of SNAP, loses all federal funding after fiscal year 2025. This program provided:
Nutrition education to SNAP recipients
Obesity prevention programs
Healthy eating resources and cooking classes
Community nutrition interventions
The elimination of SNAP-Ed removes these educational resources entirely, focusing the program solely on food purchasing assistance.
Immigrant Eligibility Restricted
The law restricts SNAP eligibility for various categories of lawful immigrants. Some refugees and trafficking victims who previously qualified will lose access to benefits, while other immigrant communities face new barriers to participation.
What This Means for Current Recipients
Immediate Impact
Work Requirements: If you're between 18-64 and don't have young children, you'll need to work or participate in job training for at least 20 hours per week to maintain benefits. Limited exemptions remain for those with disabilities or caring for disabled family members.
Benefit Amounts: Your monthly benefit amount may decrease due to stricter utility allowance calculations, particularly if you previously received deductions for internet or other utility costs.
Renewal Process: Expect more frequent eligibility checks and stricter documentation requirements. Administrative processing may slow as states adjust to reduced federal funding.
Long-Term Changes
Harder to Maintain Benefits: The combination of expanded work requirements, reduced exemptions, and stricter verification makes it more difficult to maintain SNAP benefits over time.
Benefits Won't Keep Up with Food Costs: With TFP updates limited to every five years and required to be cost-neutral, SNAP benefits will likely fall behind rising food prices.
Reduced Support Services: The elimination of SNAP-Ed means less access to nutrition education and healthy eating resources.
What to Do Now
If you're a SNAP recipient or know someone who is, this is understandably a LOT of change to take in. But you're not powerless. Here's a quick checklist of things that you'll want to do as soon as possible:
A. Understand Your Work Requirements
Determine if you fall under the new work requirements:
Are you between 18-64?
Do you have children under 7?
Do you qualify for disability or medical exemptions?
Are you a veteran (exemption expires in 2030)?
If you're subject to work requirements, you'll need to work or participate in approved job training for at least 20 hours per week.
B. Gather Documentation
Collect and organize documents proving:
Work hours and income
Household composition
Disability status or medical conditions
Veteran status
Age verification
C. Update Your Information
Contact your local SNAP office to ensure they have your current:
Address and phone number
Email address
Employment status
Household composition
D. Plan for Changes
Budget for Potential Benefit Reductions: Your monthly SNAP amount may decrease due to stricter utility calculations.
Explore Job Training Programs: If you're subject to new work requirements, look into local job training or employment programs that satisfy SNAP requirements.
Find Alternative Nutrition Resources: With SNAP-Ed ending, seek other sources of nutrition education and healthy eating resources in your community.
Timeline of Changes
2025: Most changes take effect, including expanded work requirements and stricter benefit calculations.
2027: Federal share of administrative costs drops to 25%, potentially affecting program capacity.
2030: Temporary exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and foster youth expire.
Getting Help
As these changes roll out, contact your local SNAP office if you have questions about:
Your eligibility status
Work requirement exemptions
Documentation needed for renewals
Appeal processes if benefits are denied or reduced
The changes to SNAP under HR-1 represent the most restrictive modifications to the program in decades. While the law aims to encourage workforce participation and reduce program costs, it will make food assistance less accessible for millions of Americans. Understanding these changes and preparing accordingly will be crucial for maintaining access to this vital nutrition assistance program.