USDA proposes SNAP rule affecting 6.3 million households
A new regulation would restrict food assistance eligibility to families receiving cash aid from the TANF program, aiming to save $44.6 billion over five years.
By Alina Campbell ·
The federal government has long debated how to balance food assistance costs with eligibility standards.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a proposed rule on Monday that would limit automatic eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to low-income households receiving cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Under the current system, states can use noncash or nominal TANF services, such as child care or workforce training, to qualify households for SNAP without applying the standard income limit. The new proposal targets this broad-based categorical eligibility policy. Households relying on these noncash services would no longer automatically qualify for food benefits.
The agency estimates the change would save $44.6 billion between 2027 and 2031. The proposal cites concerns about waste and fraud as the reason for the move. It also aims to standardize eligibility rules to preserve benefits for the truly needy, according to the rule text.
The change would impact nearly 18 percent of current SNAP recipients, or about 6.3 million people. The USDA also estimates that 1.8 million children would lose eligibility for free school lunches if the rule is finalized.
The public has 30 days to submit comments on the proposed regulation before a final decision is made.
