SNAP Scare: Delays & New Rules Worry Families

ERIN SCHAFF/New York Times

By Irene Kim, Staff Reporter

On Oct. 10, the Trump administration announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would be cut for the month of November.

Amid the government shutdown between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, the Trump administration announced that those currently on SNAP benefits would receive late or reduced payments for the month of November due to the shutdown. After the shutdown ended, those on SNAP benefits were set to receive full benefits. However, new plans were announced to add more restrictions to SNAP eligibility. The Trump administration is also current- ly planning to have everyone on SNAP reapply to prove eligibility.

Approximately 41.7 million people are currently on SNAP benefits. These payments are designed to assist lower-in- come households in affording groceries and other necessities. Many rely on these funds to feed themselves and their fami- lies. Of these 41.7 million people, around 40% are children and about 20% are over the age of 60.

Despite the payments being set to return fully, the delay has already had an impact, as helplines and food banks have seen a large increase in calls and visits.

Of the approximately 1.75 million Californians who received SNAP bene- fits, also called CalFresh in California, 310,000 live in Orange County.

“I think La Palma, or even just Ken- nedy in general, traditionally is like a community where people might not think that they need those kinds of resources, but SNAP really helps a lot of people,” Family and Community Engagement Spe- cialist David Hernandez said. “It’s gonna be really rough for those families who really relied on that money.”

The new eligibility limitations set in place by the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will further restrict SNAP benefits. The OBBB dictates that refugees and many other “alien groups” will no longer be eligible for benefits.

“Passing THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTI- FUL BILL is a Historic Opportunity to turn our Country around after four disas- trous years under Joe Biden,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It will kick millions of Illegals off Medicaid, and make sure SNAP is focused on Amer- icans ONLY.”

This, along with the forced reapplica- tion, will withhold benefits for an untold number of lower-income families and households in the US.

“I know there are a lot of people on SNAP benefits and I think pulling it is also a really bad look on the Trump adminis- tration,” senior Elijah Sithavanh said.

Whether SNAP benefits will be pulled again in the future is still somewhat up in the air. The Trump administration has continued to threaten to pull or cut SNAP funding, specifically to blue states. How- ever, as of now, December benefits are funded and set to be sent out.