The nearly 42 million low-income Americans on theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)will have to reapply for benefits under a planned overhaul of the program in an effort to cut down on "fraud," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told news outlets in the wake of the government reopening last week.
Rollins said SNAP, meant to be a nutrition lifeline for financially struggling households, was among the first priorities she targeted for review, citing concerns about eligibility and oversight in an interview with Newsmax on Nov. 13.
"Make sure that everyone that's taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through ... food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable andthey can't survive without it."
The nation's largest nutrition assistance program was a flashpoint during the 43-day government shutdown, leading to unprecedented disruptions in payments and a litany ofcourt rulings. Thespending packagethat ended the shutdown on Nov. 12restored full fundingto the USDA, which oversees SNAP, after benefits were paused for the first time in the program's history on Nov. 1.
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During the Newsmax interview, Rollins also claimed that preliminary data from 29 states showed that more than 186,000 "deceased" individuals are "receiving a check" through SNAP. However, benefits are distributed on electronic cards, not checks.
Fraud happens in three primary ways,according to the USDA:applicants misrepresenting income or identity, retailers trading benefits for cash or unapproved items, or criminals stealing benefits by scanning or cloning EBT cards.
The U.S. Congressional Research Service described SNAP fraud as "rare"in an April 7 report,saying available data and reports show a large number of overpayments can be attributed to unintentional errors. USA TODAY has reached out to the USDA and the White House to request more information about the fraud allegations.
Who gets SNAP benefits?
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides cash cards known as Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) to approximately 12% of Americans for a limited time to help purchase basic food items. A large number of recipientsare elderly, disabled or children.
To qualify, households must be at or below 130% of the poverty line, meaning they make up to 30% more than thefederal poverty guideline, which in 2025 was $15,650 for a single person, $26,650 for a three-person household, and $37,650 for a five-person household.
A one-person household had a maximum monthly allotment of $298 in 2025, while a three-person household could get a maximum of $785 and a five-person household could receive $1,183,according to the USDA. There arespecial additional rulesfor households with elderly or disabled members.
SNAP benefits are determined by states and funded by the USDA. Recipients must recertify regularly to maintain eligibility. Typically, benefits can only be provided for 3 months within a 36-month period, unless additional work-related requirements apply. Approved recipients are given a finite timeline to access their benefits.
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Reapply versus recertifying for SNAP
Participants must recertify their information at least every 6 months, depending on the state and their status. They must report any changes to household status, income, medical needs, work history, and other personal information.
Reapplying entirely, as Rollins has suggested, is a more intense, time-consuming and costly process than recertifying. States are now responsible for a higher share of administrative costs to maintain and distributebenefits under the "Big Beautiful Bill," meaning nearly 42 million Americans reapplying from scratch would impose a burden on personnel and administrative costs.
The process can sometimes be done online, depending on the state. Still, it entails completing an online application and submitting pertinent documents such as proof of identity and citizenship, proof of residence, proof of income and household expenses, medical expenses, and the like. Applicants must then complete an eligibility interview, wait for state verification and then wait for a decision from the state, which typically takes about 30 days.
More:Big Beautiful Bill 101: What you need to know about the new law
Recertifying is an abbreviated version of this process, focusing on confirming current eligibility and updating information already in the system. Typically, recipients complete a shorter form, submit fresh documentation of household status and any changes, and, in some states, complete another brief interview.
Though the process is more straightforward, it is necessary. Those who do not recertify benefits in time no longer receive them and have to reapply entirely.
SNAP requirements already tightened, cut under 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," passed in July, cut an estimated $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. It also addednew restrictions to the program, including expanding work requirements.
Under the bill, able-bodied individuals without dependents must work at least 80 hours per month between the ages of 18 and 65 to receive benefits. Previously, before PresidentDonald Trump's preferred bill, the top age was 55.
It also requires parents and household members to meet the additional work requirements if a dependent child is aged 14 or older. Previously, those with a child under 18 were exempt from the requirements.
Veterans, people who recently aged out of foster care and unhoused people are no longer exempt from work requirements. It also eliminates states' ability to temporarily extend benefits beyond 3 months in areas with an unemployment rate over 10% or an insufficient number of jobs.
The bill significantly restricts benefits to apply only to certain lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens, as well as eliminates eligibility for others legally present in the United States, including those who have qualified for conditional entry under the asylum and refugee laws or based on urgent humanitarian reasons like survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking.
States are also now responsible for up to 15% of benefit costs, depending on the payment error rate, and are saddled with increased administrative costs from 50% to 75%.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Do you need to reapply for SNAP benefits? What to know.