SNAP beneficiaries prepare for a September and October shake-up in their benefits

For millions of people who rely on SNAP to buy food , September brings uncertainty that could become even more significant in the coming weeks. The program is going through changes, and another shift is already prompting states to prepare for what comes next.

What is changing for SNAP beneficiaries?

Some of the changes are already tied to work requirements. The new legislation raised the maximum age from 54 to 64 for adults considered able to work and without dependents who must meet these requirements to keep SNAP benefits .

Some exemptions for parents and other family members responsible for caring for a dependent have also changed. In these cases, the age for qualifying under certain exemptions was lowered from 18 to 14 .

The impact is already beginning to be felt across the program. Nearly 5 million people have lost access to SNAP nationwide, including more than 1.5 million children , according to figures cited from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

But the change that could shape the next chapter has yet to arrive.

Why could October be another key moment for SNAP?

Starting October 1, states will have to cover 75% of the administrative costs associated with operating SNAP . The change shifts a significant portion of the burden that had previously fallen on the federal government and is forcing states to prepare for higher expenses.

And that is not all. In the coming years, states are also expected to take on part of the cost of benefits based on their error rates. For most states, that additional obligation could range from 5% to 15%, depending on their performance .

But there is still a possibility of delaying the change. State and national organizations focused on food assistance are asking Congress to give states more time to prepare and lower their error rates .

And the timing matters: lawmakers return to Washington today, September 14 , with just over two weeks remaining before the new administrative cost-sharing structure takes effect.

The problem is that some states are already showing how difficult it could be to absorb the consequences.

That is where one of the biggest concerns comes in: food banks can help meet some of the need, but they do not have anything close to SNAP's capacity . In Arizona, a representative of the state's food bank network explained that for every meal these organizations are able to provide, SNAP typically provides around five.

With October approaching and states trying to prepare for the new costs, it remains to be seen whether Congress will allow the change to move forward on schedule or give states more time to adjust .

For people who rely on SNAP to buy food, that decision could ultimately be far more significant than an administrative change on paper.