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Millions of Americans are losing SNAP benefits: "It feels as though people are…

Lori Covelli, 53, an unemployed social worker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who last year was collecting $760 per month in food stamps, recently lost all her benefits after failing to find a job and running afoul of the program's work requirements. She had hoped to regain that aid on her 54th birthday, when she would age out of those restrictions, but then learned that a new federal law had extended the program's work requirement to 64.

"They were saying, 'Just try to hold on

"They were saying, 'Just try to hold on until you turn 54,'" Covelli told CBS News in recounting discussions with employees at her state's office for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the formal name for the food-stamp program.

This summer — several months before Covelli turned

This summer — several months before Covelli turned 54 — she received a letter from SNAP that dashed those hopes. It told her that under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), which President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025, the work requirement had been extended for people up to age 64. "That's a long way off. At this point, SNAP benefits are essentially over for me," she said.

Covelli said she's applying to about 10 jobs

Covelli said she's applying to about 10 jobs a week but has so far failed to find employment. In the meantime, she's not sure how she'll cope financially, especially given the rising cost of groceries, utilities and other daily essentials. "It feels as though people are being punished" by the SNAP changes, she added.

In May, President Trump said that millions of

In May, President Trump said that millions of people have been "lifted off" of SNAP due to a stronger economy. But anti-hunger experts and food-stamp recipients say that doesn't reflect what they are seeing, such as a job market where many are struggling to find work while coping with higher food costs. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment.

About 5.2 million Americans like Covelli have lost

About 5.2 million Americans like Covelli have lost SNAP benefits since the OBBBA was enacted, according to a recent analysis from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), an anti-hunger advocacy group.

SNAP enrollment now stands at its lowest level

SNAP enrollment now stands at its lowest level since 2019. Experts predict that more people will drop out of the program in the coming months as the 2025 tax and spending law imposes additional changes to SNAP.

SNAP's overhaul is creating new hurdles for applicants

SNAP's overhaul is creating new hurdles for applicants and heavier financial burdens for the states that administer the program, experts said. Starting Oct. 1, states will be required to pay 75% of the program's administrative costs, up from 50%.

Starting in October 2027, states with high SNAP

Starting in October 2027, states with high SNAP payment error rates also will have to pay up to 15% of benefits, a cost the federal government has previously covered entirely. Republican lawmakers have said the error rates indicate fraud, although anti-hunger advocates say they occur for routine mistakes like misspellings or missing addresses.

Stricter work requirements for SNAP are adding more

Stricter work requirements for SNAP are adding more pressure, with experts noting that the new rules have contributed to the decline in enrollment. Under OBBBA, food-stamp recipients aged 18 to 64 are required to work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month.

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Millions of Americans are losing SNAP benefits: "It feels as though people are being punished"

Lori Covelli, 53, an unemployed social worker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who last year was collecting $760 per month in food stamps, recently lost all her benefits after failing to find a job and running afoul of the program's work requirements.

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Source: CBS News
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