The ‘chaos and uncertainty’ of SNAP going into the new year

SALT LAKE CITY — Some Utahns are part of the roughly 41.7 million in the country who receive monthly benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – and those families are starting to feel the changes taking effect after the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in July.

Don’t feel like reading the story? Listen 👇 to the full Inside Sources interview instead.

 

HR 1 (or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) was signed on July 4, 2025. It contained changes made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A couple of the changes included amendments that address work requirements and who can receive SNAP benefits.

Executive Director Gina Cornia with Utahns Against Hunger said the new work requirements are a concern to some families who feel they may be pushed out of the program.

“It’s just as much about the chaos that it has caused and the uncertainty,” Cornia said.

According to Cornia, the “Big Beautiful Bill” made refugees ineligible for SNAP. That equates to over 3,000 Utahns who will lose access to those benefits.

Additionally, Cornia said OBBA includes new work requirements for people on Medicaid as well as those who receive SNAP benefits. She said SNAP has always had work requirements, but that OBBA expands the work requirements and will impact those who are ages 55 to 64. 

“That seems reasonable, I mean I’m 62, I’m not quitting my job anytime soon,” Cornia said. “But many of those folks have a lot of barriers to employment, they lack transportation, maybe they can’t drive anymore, maybe they live in a rural community where there really aren’t jobs.”

Cornia said the majority of people who access those programs are seniors over the age of 60, children under the age of 18 and people with disabilities.

SNAP fraud

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also enacted provisions that address SNAP fraud, and integrity. In 2028, states will be required to recoup at least some of the cost if there is a payment error rate above 6%.  

The bill also addresses SNAP fraud, namely, if funds are removed from a person’s account through a hidden a skimmer. According to Cornia, this type of fraud happens to many cardholders, that’s no different for those who use SNAP funds to buy their food for the dinner table.

“It’s created a lot of uncertainty sort of in the name of fraud, waste and abuse, when in fact, the most fraud that happens is people’s benefits being stolen by criminal enterprises,” Cornia said.

Concerns about the next session

“I think going into this next session, we’re really concerned, we have to have $13 million dollars in additional funding for administrative costs,” Cornia said. “They push those additional costs onto the states and we know it’s going to be a rough session.”

Recently, Gov. Cox announced that there’s $500 million dollars less to spend because of the Trump tax cuts.

“The people who are going to suffer and the people who have the most to lose are low income people who depend on housing and food and health care,” Cornia said.

Food pantries have already said they can’t fill the gap and are feeling more pressure after a government shutdown created questions about whether or not payments would be distributed in November.

“Utahns are incredibly generous and the food banks across the state do amazing work,” Cornia said. “That is not enough to replace benefits that people get from federal nutrition programs.”

What happens if someone loses SNAP benefits?

Cornia continued her discussion with Inside Sources by discussing how people losing SNAP benefits could impact the economy and not just their personal lives.

“We really need to make the case that these programs literally save lives,” Cornia said. “SNAP brings in $400 million dollars every year in terms of SNAP benefits. … Obviously that would impact individual households but it would also impact the economy.”

A loss of SNAP benefits can also impact a community. Cornia cited rural grocery stores would likely need to close due to lost revenue.

“I know, obviously, the Department of Workforce Services is working on this, the governor has obviously recommended it in his budget. But you know, $13 million dollars is a big ticket item and it’s a new ongoing expense that we’ve never had before.”

Cornia said she believes some people may drop out of the SNAP program due to the requirements.

“It’s exhausting,” Cornia said. “People are trying to go to work, they’re trying to raise their families and now they have this added layer of bureaucracy and I think that will be especially true for seniors.”

The Trump administration also focused on SNAP during the president’s first term, when he proposed budget cuts and increased work requirements.

“We saw it in the first Trump administration, when there was a lot of new guidance around immigrants and how they’re eligible for programs,” Cornia said. “It’s just, it’s intentional creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty and people would just rather try and figure it out than jump through a bunch of hoops.”

How to help those facing SNAP changes

According to Cornia, one in 10 Utah households experience food insecurity. She said one way a person can support those who need help is to support their local food pantry. 

“During the government shutdown, use at pantries surged 36% and that was only like halfway through November,” Cornia said. “I think people were really in a panic, they have to pay their rent, they have to buy food, so support your local food pantry.”

Cornia said supporting the food pantries through the Utah Food Bank works well because it works with local pantries. She said people can also donate cash and the Utah Food Bank will use that money where they know it’s needed.

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