For millions of American families who rely on food assistance to stretch their grocery budgets, a wave of major changes is about to begin — and many may feel the effects sooner than expected. Starting this November, new rules under the One Big Beautiful Bill Actwill reshape who qualifies for SNAP and how benefits are delivered.
With grocery prices still high and basic living costs rising across the country, the timing has families anxious. Lawmakers call the changes a push toward accountability and self-sufficiency. Advocates warn they could deepen food insecurity for those already on the edge.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, SNAP is set to undergo $187 billion in funding reductions between now and 2034 — the most significant overhaul in decades.