New SNAP Work Rules Threaten to Snarl Older Adults in Red Tape

​“We see that older adults have had the least enrollment in SNAP because of the challenges with administrative burdens and having to do all the paperwork and verification,” says Chloe Green, assistant director of policy at the American Public Human Services Association. ​

​Many older adults may also request in-person appointments to apply for benefits like SNAP, “because the application is extremely difficult,” says Parker Gilkesson Davis, who worked as a human services specialist for Mecklenburg County in North Carolina. ​

​Now, many must also navigate submitting proof of work — or documents for exemptions — for the first time. ​

​What that looks like can vary, depending on whether beneficiaries have a documented disability with Social Security, a steady paycheck or only intermittent gig or volunteer work. ​

​Older adults in low-income households may not have regular access to the internet, Davis says, so obtaining pay stubs and volunteer time sheets that are often tracked online creates a barrier. ​

​States are deploying outreach efforts — from phone calls and mailers to texts and town halls — to help beneficiaries understand new SNAP rules, but there are concerns that some older adults may still fall through the cracks. ​

​“I do feel like there will be a group that will be losing some of their benefits, because either they now need to meet an exemption or just were not aware of the changes,” says Zabdiel Martinez, a Wisconsin benefits specialist speaking as a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. ​

​A Department of Agriculture (USDA) spokesperson told AARP in a statement that state agencies have received guidance to ensure compliance with new federal laws regulating eligibility. But federal funding cuts have left states with significantly less support for essential administrative functions, such as call center staffing, technology upgrades, worker training and service improvements. ​

​Under the new rules in President Trump’s spending bill, states have to self-fund 75 percent of administrative costs, up from 50 percent, beginning October 2026. ​

​The anticipated surge in beneficiary questions, forms and document verifications “is definitely going to put a burden on the workers,” says Martinez, which could result in delays for applicants awaiting benefits. ​

​“It does feel overwhelming to think about how big this obstacle is going to be,” he says. ​

States rush to implement with less federal support

​States also have worries about the process. ​

​The OBBBA shifted significant financial responsibility for SNAP onto states. And if they don’t enforce the new requirements accurately, they could pay even more. ​

​SNAP benefits themselves have been fully federally funded since the program began in the 1960s. But under the new spending law, starting in October 2027, states with benefit error rates above 6 percent must cover at least 5 percent of benefits, with contributions rising to 15 percent for those with the highest payment error rates. AARP research estimates 28 states would likely qualify for the highest percentage. ​

​​In general, it’s common to see a spike in payment errors whenever significant changes are implemented in a large public program like SNAP, Green says. ​

​​North Carolina, for example, predicted it would be on the hook for up to roughly $700 million — the equivalent of nearly 9,000 public school teacher positions. The state’s Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) says lawmakers are “not likely” to cover this new annual cost, especially as they anticipate additional responsibilities to fund Medicaid. ​

​States that cannot cover the costs might have to cut back on SNAP participation, reduce funding for other vital programs or even withdraw from SNAP entirely.

​​That’s the biggest concern for Michael Leighs, deputy secretary for opportunity and well-being at NCDHHS.

​​“It is certainly unreasonable to think of our food bank partners picking up that burden,” he says. “Ensuring that we continue to participate in [SNAP] is at the forefront.” ​

​Based on the OBBBA funding changes, states are projected to spend two to three times more of their budgets on SNAP, with a median increase of about 202 percent, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Poverty and Inequality. In 15 states, the share of the state budget required to fund SNAP will increase more than 300 percent. ​

​Already, states are taking various measures to keep their error rates — and share of costs — down. ​

​They’re hosting trainings, dialing back remote work and requesting more verifications on documents. Some are also looking to artificial intelligence and chatbots to automate rote administrative processes, says Lauren Molineaux, deputy executive director of programs for Maryland’s Family Investment Administration. ​

​“We want to make sure the tech [tools] we’re putting in place to support benefits aren’t putting us at risk of errors, and also serve as an opportunity to mitigate errors,” she says. ​