It feels like every time you turn on the news or scroll through your feed, there’s another headline about food stamps. People are panicked. You might have seen a post claiming the "well has run dry" or heard a neighbor worrying about their EBT card suddenly bouncing at the register.
Honestly, it’s a mess. Between the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) signed in July 2025 and new state-level restrictions, the rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have basically been flipped upside down for 2026.
So, why are SNAP benefits stopping for so many people right now? It isn't just one thing. It’s a combination of stricter work rules, a crackdown on what you can actually buy, and states being forced to pick up a much bigger tab—which, as you can guess, makes them way more likely to cut people off to save cash.
The Big Age Jump in Work Requirements
For years, the "work rule" drama mostly hit younger adults without kids. If you were under 50 and didn't have children, you had to work 80 hours a month or lose your benefits after 90 days.
That age cap is gone.
Under the new 2026 rules, the age limit for these "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWDs) has jumped to 64. If you’re 58 and struggling to find a job in a tough market, the government now expects you to document 80 hours of work, volunteering, or training every single month. If you don't? You get three months of help, and then you're done for the next three years.
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Even parents aren't safe from the changes. Previously, caring for a child under 18 usually kept the work-requirement wolves at the door. Now, in many places, that "safe" age for the child has been dropped to 14. If your youngest is a high school freshman, the state might decide you're officially back on the hook for those 80 hours.
States Banning "Junk Food" and Soda
This is the part that’s catching people off guard at the checkout line. Starting January 1, 2026, a bunch of states—including Idaho, Iowa, Arkansas, and Florida—got the green light from the USDA to ban certain items.
If you live in these states, your SNAP benefits didn't "stop" entirely, but they stopped working for specific things. We’re talking:
- Soda and energy drinks (even diet versions in some spots).
- Candy and chocolate.
- Store-bought desserts like pies or cakes.
- Juice that isn't at least 50% real fruit.
Texas is joining the party on April 1, 2026. This isn't just a suggestion; the USDA told retailers they must program their systems to block these items. If you try to buy a Hershey’s bar with your EBT card in Des Moines right now, it’s just going to decline that part of the total.
The Paperwork Trap
A lot of people are losing benefits not because they aren't eligible, but because the system is getting way more complicated. This is what experts call "administrative churn."
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In 2026, many states are moving to more frequent "eligibility checks." Instead of checking in once a year, you might have to prove your income and work hours every six months. If a letter gets lost in the mail or you miss a deadline by one day, your benefits stop instantly.
The OBBBA also removed some big safety nets. For a while, veterans, unhoused people, and kids aging out of foster care had special protections. Most of those are gone. Now, an unhoused veteran might be required to prove 80 hours of "activity" just like everyone else, which is incredibly hard to do without a stable address or phone.
Why are SNAP benefits stopping at the state level?
There is a massive financial shift happening behind the scenes that most people don't see. Historically, the federal government paid for 100% of the food benefits, and states split the administrative costs 50/50.
That’s changing.
States are now being asked to pay for a bigger chunk of the administration (up to 75% in some cases) and are even being penalized if they have high "error rates." Basically, if a state accidentally gives someone $10 too much, the federal government makes the state pay a fine.
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To avoid these fines, states are getting "trigger happy" with cancellations. It is safer for a state budget to cut someone off for a missing signature than to risk an overpayment penalty.
What You Can Actually Do
If you’ve received a notice or your card isn't working, don't wait. The system is slower than ever because caseworkers are buried under the new 2026 paperwork requirements.
Check your child's age. If your youngest turned 14 recently, you might have been moved into the "must work" category without realizing it.
Document everything. If you are volunteering or bartering work for rent, get it in writing. The new law accepts "unpaid work," but only if you have a signed letter from the person or organization.
Screen for exemptions. You can still get out of the work requirements if you are "medically frail." This doesn't just mean being in a wheelchair; it can include chronic mental health issues or temporary injuries. You’ll need a doctor to sign off on a specific form, though—a standard note often won't cut it anymore.
Watch the "Junk Food" bans. If your card is being declined, check if you have soda or candy in your cart. In states like Iowa and Florida, the list of banned items is surprisingly long.
The most important step right now is to log into your state’s EBT portal (like "Manage My Case" in Illinois or "MyFlorida") and make sure your contact info is current. Thousands of people are losing help simply because their "Redetermination" letter went to an old address. If you haven't seen a letter from the state in over six months, you're probably overdue for a check-in.