Published November 12, 2026 · By
A new SNAP eligibility rule proposed by the Trump administration could remove about 6.3 million people from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal food aid program once known as food stamps. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the proposal in the Federal Register on Tuesday, November 10, one week after the midterm elections that handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress.
The proposal is not final, and nothing changes for current recipients today. Here is what the SNAP eligibility rule would do, who could be affected, what each side is saying and what households can do now.
What the SNAP eligibility rule would change
The proposal, titled "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Reforming Categorical Eligibility," targets a policy known as broad-based categorical eligibility, or BBCE. Under BBCE, states can automatically enroll a household in SNAP if it receives a benefit or service funded by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the federal welfare block grant.
Today, those TANF-funded benefits can include non-cash services such as child care help or job training. The USDA wants to limit automatic eligibility to households that receive TANF cash assistance. Everyone else would have to pass SNAP's standard federal income and asset tests.
According to the USDA, 46 states used broad-based categorical eligibility as of December 2025. Of those, 37 set gross income limits above the federal standard and 41 did not apply an asset test at all. Many states allow households to earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level, about $66,000 a year for a family of four, while the standard SNAP gross income limit is 130%, or roughly $42,900.
How many people the SNAP eligibility rule could affect
The department's own analysis of the SNAP eligibility rule estimates that about 17.6% of current participants would no longer qualify. That works out to 3.2 million households and 6.3 million people in fiscal year 2029, the first year the rule is expected to reach its full effect.
- Children and school meals: about 1.78 million children would lose automatic eligibility for free school meals, which is linked to SNAP enrollment. The USDA says the vast majority could still qualify for free or reduced-price meals if their families file a separate application.
- Households with savings: the department estimates that about 11.5% of participating households have resources above the standard SNAP asset limit.
- Small households: more than 840,000 one- and two-person households receive the minimum monthly benefit of $23 only because of BBCE.
- Federal spending: the USDA projects savings of about $44.65 billion in federal SNAP spending and $5.2 billion in state spending over five years.
The SNAP eligibility rule comes on top of earlier changes. Roughly 36.1 million people received SNAP in July, and participation has fallen by about 5.5 million since the tax and spending law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act took effect in July 2025 and tightened eligibility and work requirements.
What the administration and supporters say
In defending the SNAP eligibility rule, the USDA argues that Congress created categorical eligibility to reduce paperwork for families already approved for welfare, not to widen the group of people who qualify for food aid. The department says BBCE has expanded the rolls for decades, produced a patchwork of different rules across states and allowed benefits to reach households with income or savings above federal limits. It says the change would keep benefits focused on households that are most in need.
The Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative policy group, has long called BBCE a federal loophole and urged Congress to close it. The group estimates that ending the policy would save taxpayers about $112 billion over a decade. Researchers at the American Enterprise Institute have also argued that states use the policy to cover people above the statutory income limit, while cautioning that any change should avoid creating steep benefit cliffs.
What critics and anti-hunger groups say
Opponents of the SNAP eligibility rule say the people most likely to lose help are low-wage workers whose paychecks sit just above the standard limit and older adults with modest savings. Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP director at the Food Research and Action Center, said the change would have far-reaching effects on the working poor.
Anti-hunger advocates argue that BBCE softens the so-called benefit cliff, where a small raise can cost a family more in lost aid than it gains in wages. They also warn that bringing back asset tests would add paperwork for families and caseworkers. Ali Hard, policy director at the National WIC Association, noted that the department stopped measuring food insecurity last year, which she said would make the rule's effects harder to track.
What happens next with the SNAP eligibility rule
The SNAP eligibility rule is open for public comment for 30 days. The USDA must review the comments before it can publish a final version, and the final text can differ from the proposal. Most states would then need to rebuild parts of their eligibility systems, which is why the department expects the full effect only in fiscal 2029.
Politics will also shape the outcome of the SNAP eligibility rule, which arrives at a time when the balance of power in Washington is about to shift. Democrats take control of the House and Senate in January. They can hold oversight hearings and use the appropriations process, but they cannot overturn a regulation on their own without the president's signature. Legal challenges from states and advocacy groups are considered likely if the rule is finalized.
This is not the first attempt. The first Trump administration proposed a similar SNAP eligibility rule in 2019, and the Biden administration withdrew it in 2021. Congress has also declined to write comparable limits into law, including during work on the 2018 farm bill.
What it means for your household budget
If you receive SNAP today, your benefits do not change because of the SNAP eligibility rule. A proposal is only the first step in federal rulemaking, and it can be revised, delayed or blocked in court before it takes effect. Still, families near the income or asset limits may want to prepare for possible changes over the next few years.
Practical steps to consider
- Check how you qualify. Ask your state SNAP office whether your household is enrolled through broad-based categorical eligibility or through the standard income test.
- Compare your income with the federal limit. If your gross income is above 130% of the poverty level, you are more likely to be affected if the SNAP eligibility rule becomes final.
- Apply for school meals separately. If your children get free meals through SNAP, a direct application with the school district can keep that benefit in place.
- Comment if you wish. Anyone can submit a public comment on the proposal during the 30-day window through the Federal Register.
- Build a small cushion. A written budget and a short list of local food banks can help if benefits change later.
Avoid covering a sudden gap in grocery money with high-cost credit. If you already carry balances, our guide to the debt snowball vs. avalanche methods explains two ways to pay them down, and our explainer on deferred interest vs. 0% APR shows why some store-card promotions can cost more than they seem.
Official eligibility information is available on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service SNAP eligibility page.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial or legal advice.
Sources: Feedstuffs, HNGN, FOX 5 DC / Reuters, CNN, NPR, USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
