For decades, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has helped low-income Americans afford groceries and maintain basic nutrition. Originally launched in the 1960s as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP has evolved into a vital support system for families, seniors, and individuals facing economic hardship.
In Minnesota, more than 440,000 residents relied on SNAP in 2024 to help put food on the table.
SNAP does more than reduce hunger—it improves health outcomes, supports child development, and strengthens local economies. In 2025, the program underwent a dramatic transformation.
The Big Beautiful Bill: A Turning Point
Passed in July 2025, the Big Beautiful Bill introduced sweeping changes to SNAP shifting greater responsibility to the states to pay for the program and placing tighter restrictions on who is eligible to receive benefits.
Counties Carry the Cost
Perhaps the largest change to the SNAP program in the Big Beautiful Bill is the financial burden it places on state governments. Previously, the federal government reimbursed states for 50% of SNAP administrative costs. Under the new law, that reimbursement has been slashed to 25%, leaving states responsible for the remaining 75%. Additionally, starting in 2027, states will be required to pay for a share of SNAP benefit costs, which is a shift from 100% federal coverage. A state's share of costs will be tied to its Payment Error Rate (PER). States with higher error rates will have to pay a higher percentage of the benefit costs, ranging from 5% to 15%. This increase in cost may lead some states to reduce benefits or eliminate the program altogether.
The SNAP program in MN is administered by county governments. As many counties are already facing tight budgets, the added costs could force them to make difficult decisions, perhaps increasing property taxes to maintain current service levels.
SNAP Eligibility in Minnesota Is Shrinking
The Big Beautiful Bill also introduced several key changes to who qualifies for SNAP benefits which could result in an estimated 45,000 Minnesotans losing access to benefits.
- Work Requirements
Able-bodied adults without dependents, previously required to work if they were between 18 and 49, must now meet work requirements up to age 64. That means working at least 80 hours a month or participating in a qualifying training program. Previously the work requirements applied only to adults aged 18–49.
- Fewer Exemptions
Exemptions that once protected veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and youth aging out of foster care have been eliminated. Parents are no longer exempt unless their children are under 14, down from the previous cutoff of 18.
- Tighter Immigration Rules
The bill restricts eligibility to U.S. citizens, green card holders, citizens of COFA nations, and Cuban/Haitian entrants. Refugees, asylum seekers, and trafficking survivors—groups previously eligible—are now excluded.
- Adjustments for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Seniors aged 60 and older are still exempt from work requirements, and those with disabilities remain protected. But adults nearing retirement, especially those between 55 and 64 who are not disabled, may now be subject to work rules for the first time.
The result is a dramatic shift in who qualifies for help. In Minnesota, SNAP eligibility had been steadily rising in recent years, with more than 440,000 residents receiving benefits in 2024. For food shelves, social service agencies, and families across the state, the implications are clear: fewer people will qualify for help and more will turn to local resources to fill the gap.
A Shrinking Safety Net
The Big Beautiful Bill has reshaped SNAP in ways that go far beyond eligibility. It has introduced uncertainty for families who depend on consistent support, and it has placed new pressures on the very systems designed to help them.
As Minnesota communities adjust to these changes, food shelves, nonprofits, and advocacy groups are stepping up to fill the gaps. But the message is clear: the safety net is shrinking, and the need for local support has never been greater.
Want to learn more:
Food stamp cuts in ‘big, beautiful’ budget act will hit recipients — and property owners | KAXE
