Millions of Americans were expected to have their SNAP benefits fully restored on Monday after the federal government reopened last week, but new worries have surfaced. The head of the United States Department of Agriculture said every SNAP recipient will have to reapply for benefits.
The recent government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — temporarily interrupted assistance, leaving many families struggling to afford food.
Now, new challenges may be on the horizon for people who rely on SNAP.
In Florida, most SNAP households already recertify every six months, which is similar to requirements in many other states. But millions nationwide may soon have to reapply altogether.
Here is what SNAP looks like on a national level:
– About 42 million Americans depend on the program
– Nearly 3 million Floridians use SNAP, roughly 13 percent of the state’s population
– For fiscal year 2024, SNAP cost about $100 billion nationwide
According to Politico, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Trump Administration is cracking down on “fraud” by requiring everyone to reapply. She did not provide any further details, timeline, or explanation of how the process would work, but said the goal is to ensure that recipients are truly “vulnerable and can’t survive without” the benefits.
Rollins claimed that 186,000 deceased individuals are still listed as receiving SNAP payments, citing data from 29 states.
The USDA says SNAP-related fraud — such as lying about income or identity — can result in disqualification, fines, criminal charges, or even prison.
In Florida, SNAP applications are handled on the Department of Children and Families website through the My-Access portal. Users can choose “Apply Now” or “See If You Qualify.” To apply, an account must be created, but to check eligibility, applicants can answer a few questions before receiving recommendations.
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