Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the program for food stamps, has declined sharply since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
New federal requirements, tighter eligibility rules and a heavier paperwork burden are changing how people access the nation’s largest food assistance program, according to news sources. For millions of families, limited access makes it hard to put food on the table as grocery costs have climbed.
In fact, about five million fewer people were enrolled in SNAP in June 2026 than in July 2025, a decline of about 13 percent, according to federal data reported by KFF Health News. Louisiana alone saw enrollment fall by about 170,000 people, or 21 percent.
The drop in the number of people enrolled in the program is happening as new rules take effect. But some people who may still qualify for SNAP are losing benefits because of a variety of procedural problems.
In Louisiana, about 75 percent of people who lost SNAP between July 2025 and June 2026 did so for procedural reasons, according to state data cited by KFF Health News. That can happen when someone does not submit paperwork on time, misses an interview or fails to complete a required recertification.
Sometimes, the problem may be on the agency’s side. KFF Health News reported that applicants can also face delays when notices arrive late, paperwork is sent to the wrong address or caseworkers are dealing with backlogs.
Tia Fields, a safety net policy analyst at Invest in Louisiana, told KFF Health News that administrative paperwork, rather than work requirements, is a major reason she is seeing people lose coverage.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded SNAP work requirements and made it harder for states to waive them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SNAP work requirements guidance says the law changed who must follow the program’s work requirements and the criteria for certain exceptions and waivers.
Under the new requirements, more adults must work, volunteer or attend school to continue receiving SNAP. The expanded requirements include adults ages 55 to 64 and some parents with children ages 14 to 17. People ages 65 and older and parents with children younger than 14 remain exempt, along with some people with health limitations.
The law also revoked SNAP access for some noncitizens who previously qualified. But the drop in enrollment cannot be attributed entirely to people losing eligibility.
People who receive SNAP can take steps to reduce the chance of losing benefits because of missed paperwork or deadlines.
Keep your contact information up to date with your state SNAP agency and pay attention to notices about recertification, interviews and required documents. Gather documents before deadlines and keep copies or confirmation numbers for anything you submit.
If you have a health condition or another circumstance that may qualify you for an exemption from a SNAP requirement, ask your state agency whether you qualify and what documentation may be needed. USDA guidance shows that missed interviews, missing verification and failure to complete reports can affect SNAP cases.
Review the notice from your state agency to learn why your benefits were stopped or reduced and whether you have a deadline to respond. Contact the agency as soon as possible if you believe the decision is incorrect or you have missing documents to submit.
You can also ask about your right to appeal or request a fair hearing. If you missed a deadline or interview, ask the agency whether you can still submit the required information or complete the interview. USDA’s SNAP materials recognize missed interviews and incomplete or missing documents as reasons a case can be denied or terminated.
If you are struggling to afford food while your SNAP case is being reviewed or you are waiting for benefits to be restored, you may have other options. Call 211 to find local food assistance and community organizations. You can also contact a local food bank or food pantry.
Families may also qualify for WIC, which provides food assistance and nutrition support to eligible pregnant women, new mothers and young children. Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through their school or child care program. USAGov lists federal and local food assistance options, including emergency food assistance and WIC.
Food insecurity can affect more than a family’s grocery budget. The CDC says food insecurity can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and make the condition harder to manage. The agency also found that lower food security was associated with higher odds of diabetes, high blood pressure-related conditions, kidney problems and cardiovascular disease.
For people already living with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease or heart disease, having consistent access to nutritious food can be especially important for managing their health.
The rapid decline in SNAP enrollment is still unfolding, and it is too early to know how many people lost benefits because they no longer qualified and how many were pushed off the rolls by administrative barriers.
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