SNAP recipients are set to see their benefits eliminated as part of a sweeping overhaul coming into force in October.
Nearly half of all residents in one US state will be hit by the upcoming changes which will roll out in waves this month.
SNAP recipients are about to be hit by sweeping changes[/caption]
The Oregon Department of Human Services is enforcing congressionally-designated changes to the food assistance program.
The reform will see around 42 per cent of Oregonian recipients of the SNAP program lose out on benefits.
Authorities say 740,000 locals currently receive benefits from SNAP, but expect that 313,000 people are set to lose out.
The cuts come as part of Donald Trump‘s “Big Beautiful Bill”.
And they are expected to hit three main groups of SNAP recipients.
Firstly, households earning utility assistance from the government will see their payments reduced.
Secondly, able-bodied adults aged between 18 and 64 who have no children less than 14 year old will see their benefits slashed.
And finally, certain documented immigrants will be hit pay the changes to SNAP.
Oregon‘s Human Services Department will implement stricter requirements for those who qualify for utility assistance benefits.
Families will only qualify for SNAP through the Heating and Cooling Full Utility Allowance if one or more members of the household is 60 or older or has a disability.
Households who applied or renewed between July 1 and October 1 will get notices for the changes around October 15.
These locals will see reductions in their benefits starting from November 1.
ODHS estimates nearly 50,000 households will be affected.
And they estimate almost 30,000 will be affected by benefit reductions averaging $58 per month.
In addition, able-bodied adults without dependents may now only be able to get benefits for up to three months – before being required to prove you are in work.
This category of recipients, labelled ABAWD by authorities, currently defines someone between the ages of 18 and 54 who does not have a disability or child under 18.
But this range will now be expanded, making those between 18 and 64 – and those with a child aged 14-17 – subject to work requirements.
Exemptions for veterans, homeless people and young adults ageing out of foster care are also being removed.
But there is a new exemption for Indigenous Americans who meet the federal definition of “Indian, Urban Indian, or California Indian”.
To meet employment requirements you must work for at least 80 hours per month.
In the three Portland-area counties as well as Yamhill, Benton and Hood River counties, the work requirements went into effect October 1.
In the rest of the state they will kick in from January 1 2026.
Refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors and other documented immigrants who were previously eligible for SNAP, will be cut from the program from November 1.
Local authorities estimate this change will affect approximately 3,000 people.
If you applied for or recertified your benefits between July 4 and October 1, benefit reductions will go into effect from November 1.
But those who were approved SNAP benefits before July 4 and are subject to the upcoming changes will see their benefits wiped out or reduced next year.
Nearly half of those eligible in Oregon will be affected by the tweaks[/caption]
