The next TFP review cannot occur before October 1, 2027.
All future updates must be cost-neutral, meaning they cannot increase total program spending.
Annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will be capped based on household size.
The same TFP cost model must now apply uniformly to all households, regardless of composition.
These changes effectively limit the program’s ability to respond to rising food costs or evolving nutritional science.
Increased Burden on States
Perhaps one of the most pressing challenges lies in administrative funding. Currently, the federal government covers 50% of state administrative costs for running SNAP. Starting October 1, 2026 (FY 2027), that share drops to 25%, shifting a significant financial burden to states.
Additionally, a new penalty system will require states to pay extra if their payment error rate exceeds 6%—a threshold that includes overpayments, underpayments, and improper enrollments.
Historical data shows this is a high bar: only nine states maintained error rates below 6% in FY 2024, and nearly all have exceeded it at some point since 2003.
Major Changes to SNAP Food Assistance Program!!!
