The new legislation eliminates most of these pathways, restricting eligibility primarily to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs). A limited number of humanitarian exceptions remain, but many undocumented and legally present immigrants will lose access.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) estimates that approximately 90,000 individuals per month will become ineligible due to these changes.
The White House has defended the policy, stating:
“Illegal immigrants cost taxpayers billions in free healthcare and welfare. The One Big Beautiful Bill ends SNAP and Medicaid fraud, ensuring these programs serve only eligible Americans.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has acknowledged the shift, noting on its website:
“This update modifies non-citizen eligibility for SNAP. Further guidance will be issued.”
Changes to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP)
Separately, beginning October 1, 2024, updates to the Thrifty Food Plan—the benchmark used to calculate SNAP benefit levels—will take effect. While the USDA implemented standard cost-of-living adjustments for 2025 (e.g., raising the maximum monthly benefit for a five-person household from $1,158 to $1,183), future revisions face new constraints.
Under the new law:
The next TFP review cannot occur before October 1, 2027.
All future updates must be cost-neutral, meaning they cannot increase total program spending.
Annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will be capped based on household size.
The same TFP cost model must now apply uniformly to all households, regardless of composition.
These changes effectively limit the program’s ability to respond to rising food costs or evolving nutritional science.
Increased Burden on States
Perhaps one of the most pressing challenges lies in administrative funding. Currently, the federal government covers 50% of state administrative costs for running SNAP. Starting October 1, 2026 (FY 2027), that share drops to 25%, shifting a significant financial burden to states.
Additionally, a new penalty system will require states to pay extra if their payment error rate exceeds 6%—a threshold that includes overpayments, underpayments, and improper enrollments.
Historical data shows this is a high bar: only nine states maintained error rates below 6% in FY 2024, and nearly all have exceeded it at some point since 2003.
