SNAP changes are coming

CODY (WNE) — With the passage of One Big Beautiful Bill last year, SNAP benefits will soon be experiencing its ramifications. They will take effect in four ways.

First, at the beginning of this month, the state now pays more into the SNAP program.

The state now covers 75% of the program’s administrative costs, an increase from the previous 50%, raising the state’s share from $6.7 million to about $10 million. The benefits themselves will still remain 100% federal, so this will affect the state’s budget, but not recipients’ monthly amounts.

Second, work requirements have expanded. Before the changes, able-bodied adults with no dependents had to log 80 hours a month of work, job training or volunteering. Now, the law has widened that age group affected from 18-54 to 18-64, and also includes parents of children 14 or older. The Department of Family Services has estimated that 725 more Wyomingites will be included under the new requirements.

Third, there will be error-rate penalties. These measure the share of benefits a state has over- or underpaid. States whose error payment rate tops 6% will have to cover part of the benefit costs.

Fourth, a soda ban will be enacted in February 2027. It will prevent SNAP funds from being used to purchase sweetened, carbonated beverages. The ban will run as a two-year pilot.

More than 25,000 Wyomingites are relying on SNAP, according to a June United States Department of Agriculture estimate.

Later this month, the DFS will have more information about how the SNAP changes will affect the state.

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