The Trump administration’s proposed rule would eliminate automatic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility for some Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, potentially removing benefits from about 6.3 million individuals by fiscal year 2029. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects this shift would occur if states no longer grant automatic qualification under current policies. Under existing rules, TANF enrollment automatically qualifies recipients for SNAP at the state level, allowing certain states to extend benefits beyond federal requirements.
The proposed change would dismantle this system, leaving millions without support. Over the past year alone, 5.5 million people have already lost SNAP benefits, marking a significant reduction in access. The public has until next month to submit comments on the rule before it takes effect, though legal disputes over related policies remain unsettled.
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A federal judge in Oregon ruled in September that 22 states and the District of Columbia could continue providing SNAP benefits to lawful permanent residents, including green card holders, refugees, and asylum seekers. The decision blocked a Trump-era policy that would have excluded these groups. The states had previously faced federal penalties for offering benefits before guidance on eligibility was finalized. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield led the legal challenge against the restrictions.
States that depend on TANF-to-SNAP automatic enrollment may now need to manually verify eligibility for affected recipients, increasing administrative workloads. The rule’s final version will hinge on public feedback and legal resolutions still pending.