What to Expect with Food Assistance Programs in 2025

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gives essential help to millions of people in the U.S. who need support buying food every month. 

As we move closer to 2025, there are a few updates coming to the program that you should know about.
 

Changes in How Much Money People Will Get

Each year, the amount of money that people receive from SNAP might change a little. This is to match the living costs that keep going up. 

Starting from October 1, 2024, for the 2025 fiscal year, there's been a slight increase in benefits for most; however, it's pretty small - around $1 more per month for a single person and $2 more for a family of four.
 
Interestingly, in Hawaii, the amount has actually gone down to $517 from $527 per month.
 

New, More Secure EBT Cards

To fight fraud and make sure benefits go to the right people, some states are bringing in more secure Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. 

Think about how credit and debit cards have those chips on them for extra safety; well, SNAP EBT cards will have them too. 

California and Oklahoma are the first to introduce these, but more states will join in 2025.

Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, has said these new chip cards are a great way to prevent theft and fraud, ensuring that people who need assistance get it safely and securely.
 

A Test Program to Prevent Fraud

In 2025, there's also a pilot program aiming to stop fraud in its tracks. It will automatically block SNAP transactions in places where the cardholder likely isn't shopping, but it lets them turn on their card for use outside their home state if need be. This is all to keep access to benefits safe but straightforward.

The specific states involved in this trial aren't public; this is to keep schemers at bay.
 

What’s Happening with SNAP Regulations?

There's some uncertainty about any significant changes to SNAP that might happen at the start of 2025. However, the past year saw some proposals that could change SNAP considerably.

Glenn Thompson, who leads the House Agriculture Committee, proposed a Farm Bill that might cut SNAP funding by $30 billion over ten years. This pushback comes after recent increases in SNAP benefits by nearly 30%. 

The previous administration under Trump suggested big shifts too, like more work requirements for eligibility and a "Harvest Box" program that would replace part of the SNAP benefits with a box of selected foods, limiting choices for households.

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