SNAP rules get an overhaul—Here’s what to know.
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In the ever-evolving landscape of federal assistance programs, the Trump administration has recently taken steps that could affect the way millions of Americans shop for their groceries.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a lifeline for many low- and no-income households, is under new scrutiny as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues fresh guidance aimed at tightening eligibility verification.
Understanding SNAP's Role in American Households
Before we delve into the changes, let's understand the program's significance. SNAP provides essential support to approximately 41 million Americans, ensuring that families can put food on the table even when times are tough.
The New Guidance and Its Implications
The Trump administration's recent directive, as part of a broader effort to restrict federal benefits to undocumented migrants, has directed state agencies to ramp up their verification processes.
Through an executive order signed on February 19, the president instructed federal agencies to "enhance eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that taxpayer funded benefits exclude any ineligible alien."
This includes more stringent checks on applicants' identities and immigration statuses. The USDA, which oversees SNAP, follows its current rules that SNAP “is not and has never been available to undocumented non-citizens.”
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Acting Deputy Under Secretary John Walk have released new guidance to state SNAP agencies, urging them to strengthen identity and immigration verification procedures when assessing eligibility for the program.
Although SNAP is federally funded, it is administered by individual states.
The agencies have been directed to "carefully examine their identity and immigration status verification practices and make necessary enhancements," which includes verifying applicants’ identities by collecting and matching Social Security numbers and confirming the immigration status of recipients.
States are also encouraged to conduct in-person interviews for first-time applicants and to review their existing processes, in addition to "continuously verify the immigration status of all aliens in the state participating in SNAP since immigration status can quickly change."
Source: WFAA / Youtube.
In a press release dated April 24, the USDA reported that $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments were made during the 2023 fiscal year, representing roughly 12 percent of all SNAP disbursements for that period. Improper payments include benefits issued either incorrectly or in the wrong amounts—whether higher or lower than what recipients were eligible for.
A 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office identified verification of U.S. citizenship as one of the factors contributing to these payment errors.
"The inadequate verification of an applicant's identity and citizenship by states is specifically highlighted as contributing to the improper payments of SNAP funds," the USDA noted in its statement.
Source: FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth / Youtube.
"President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayers will no longer subsidize illegal aliens. We are stewards of taxpayer dollars, and it is our duty to ensure states confirm the identity and verify the immigration status of SNAP applicants. USDA's nutrition programs are intended to support the most vulnerable Americans. To allow those who broke our laws by entering the United States illegally to receive these benefits is outrageous,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.
At present, no state has publicly responded to the USDA’s directive yet.
In earlier news: New SNAP eligibility crackdown: Are you at risk of losing your benefits?
Will you or someone you know be affected by changes to SNAP benefits? Do you have concerns or questions about the new verification processes? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a lifeline for many low- and no-income households, is under new scrutiny as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issues fresh guidance aimed at tightening eligibility verification.
Understanding SNAP's Role in American Households
Before we delve into the changes, let's understand the program's significance. SNAP provides essential support to approximately 41 million Americans, ensuring that families can put food on the table even when times are tough.
The New Guidance and Its Implications
The Trump administration's recent directive, as part of a broader effort to restrict federal benefits to undocumented migrants, has directed state agencies to ramp up their verification processes.
Through an executive order signed on February 19, the president instructed federal agencies to "enhance eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that taxpayer funded benefits exclude any ineligible alien."
This includes more stringent checks on applicants' identities and immigration statuses. The USDA, which oversees SNAP, follows its current rules that SNAP “is not and has never been available to undocumented non-citizens.”
The USDA has issued new guidance to state agencies to enhance identity and immigration verification for SNAP benefits. Image source: WFAA / Youtube.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Acting Deputy Under Secretary John Walk have released new guidance to state SNAP agencies, urging them to strengthen identity and immigration verification procedures when assessing eligibility for the program.
Although SNAP is federally funded, it is administered by individual states.
The agencies have been directed to "carefully examine their identity and immigration status verification practices and make necessary enhancements," which includes verifying applicants’ identities by collecting and matching Social Security numbers and confirming the immigration status of recipients.
States are also encouraged to conduct in-person interviews for first-time applicants and to review their existing processes, in addition to "continuously verify the immigration status of all aliens in the state participating in SNAP since immigration status can quickly change."
Source: WFAA / Youtube.
In a press release dated April 24, the USDA reported that $10.5 billion in improper SNAP payments were made during the 2023 fiscal year, representing roughly 12 percent of all SNAP disbursements for that period. Improper payments include benefits issued either incorrectly or in the wrong amounts—whether higher or lower than what recipients were eligible for.
A 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office identified verification of U.S. citizenship as one of the factors contributing to these payment errors.
"The inadequate verification of an applicant's identity and citizenship by states is specifically highlighted as contributing to the improper payments of SNAP funds," the USDA noted in its statement.
Source: FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth / Youtube.
"President Trump has made it clear that American taxpayers will no longer subsidize illegal aliens. We are stewards of taxpayer dollars, and it is our duty to ensure states confirm the identity and verify the immigration status of SNAP applicants. USDA's nutrition programs are intended to support the most vulnerable Americans. To allow those who broke our laws by entering the United States illegally to receive these benefits is outrageous,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.
At present, no state has publicly responded to the USDA’s directive yet.
In earlier news: New SNAP eligibility crackdown: Are you at risk of losing your benefits?
Will you or someone you know be affected by changes to SNAP benefits? Do you have concerns or questions about the new verification processes? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
