Beginning June 1, certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be required to verify that they are either employed, actively seeking work, or participating in community service in order to continue receiving benefits.
The new rules could result in millions of Americans losing access to SNAP benefits.
The federal changes mainly reinforce work requirements for certain “able-bodied" adults without dependents, which generally applies to adults ages 18 to 64 who are physically able to work and do not live with a child under 14.
Affected recipients must complete about 80 hours per month of work, job training, education, or approved volunteer or workfare activities to maintain benefits beyond a three-month limit.
If the requirements are not met, SNAP benefits are generally limited to three months in a 36-month period.
Some people are exempt from the new requirements, including people with disabilities and pregnant women.
The new SNAP program rules were mandated under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
Preliminary federal data has shown that the number of SNAP recipients has already dropped. Nearly 4.3 million fewer people were receiving SNAP benefits in January 2026 compared to the year before.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins attributed the drop in numbers to the tamping down of fraud and an improved economy.
Experts said the new requirements mandated by Trump’s massive tax and spending cut bill are the primary reasons for the reduction.
While the new rules apply nationwide starting June 1, some state agencies have adjusted their timelines for processing to ensure compliance and training.