Nearly 500,000 Floridians in 256,000 households dropped out of the SNAP program between January 2025 and January 2026, according to the latest initial data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That’s a 15.3% reduction in individuals, year over year.
Recent changes to eligibility and work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may have made it tougher to stay on the program, once known as food stamps.
Funding was also cut last year. Benefits for candy, soda, and processed desserts were blocked in many states, including Florida. Most recently, the USDA announced that retailers will be required to provide more “real food,” which could cause some to stop accepting SNAP payments if they can’t comply.
Do you qualify for SNAP in Florida? Here’s what to know.
What changes are happening to SNAP in Florida?
This week, the USDA announced that retailers must meet stricter requirements in order to continue accepting SNAP benefits. According to the agency, stores must carry seven varieties of items across four categories: protein, grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
“This change more than doubles the requirement of available foods, emphasizes more whole foods, increases the perishable food requirements, and eliminates loopholes that for too long have allowed retailers to count certain snack foods toward their staple food requirements,” a May 7 release said of the change.
“These changes will not only ensure vulnerable families in need have more nutritious options wherever they shop but demand more accountability from retailers who not only have stocked the bare minimum, but have seen the most program violations.”
The new rule goes into effect on July 7. SNAP retailers have until Nov. 4 to stock up.
SNAP benefits cut, more restrictions added
The SNAP program was already facing new reductions and restrictions. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025, cut an estimated $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
It also increased work requirements to require able-bodied individuals without dependents to work at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits if they are aged 18 to 64, rather than the previous limit of 55. Veterans, people who recently aged out of foster care, and unhoused people are no longer exempt from work requirements, and benefits have been restricted to only U.S. citizens and certain lawful permanent residents.
Others who are lawfully present in the United States were eliminated, including those who have qualified for conditional entry under the asylum and refugee laws or based on urgent humanitarian reasons, such as survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking.
The bill also pushed more of the federal costs of the program onto the states, requiring each one to take on up to 15% of the benefit costs and pay increased administrative costs from 50% to 75%.
The bill also created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program that scores states on whether they submit SNAP restriction waivers, while making SNAP requirements more difficult for recipients to qualify. Florida was one of the many states that applied for waivers, and, as of April 24, now blocks SNAP use for candy, soft drinks, energy drinks, and processed desserts.
What is SNAP?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that assists low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes to help them buy nutritious food. SNAP is part of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Do I qualify for SNAP benefits in Florida?
You won’t know for sure until you apply, as acceptance can vary by circumstances. You can apply through a MyACCESS acount here. Florida’s requirements, which do not guarantee eligibility, are currently:
Anyone convicted of drug trafficking, fleeing a felony warrant, or, in some circumstances, attending a college or university at least half-time is ineligible.
How much money do SNAP recipients get?
In fiscal year 2025, the average monthly benefit per person in the SNAP program was $187.91, per USDA data, or roughly $6 a day.
However, the exact amount of money each SNAP recipient receives per month depends on their income and household size, so it varies per person.
How many Floridians receive SNAP benefits?
According to the latest USDA data, as of April 10:
Amethyst Martinez, USA TODAY NETWORK, contributed to this story.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Do I qualify for SNAP in Florida? USDA makes more food stamp changes
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
