Trump admin backs off idea to force SNAP users to reapply

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico

11/20/2025 12:00 PM EST


The Trump administration’s promised overhaul of the nation’s largest food aid program will rely on existing policies rather than forcing people to reapply for benefits, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the plans.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said last week that millions of Americans would have to reapply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as part of an effort to root out alleged fraud, but USDA is now clarifying that it will use current verification processes. State and local SNAP administrators will continue to recertify participants’ work history, income and other personal information as often as every six months to ensure they’re eligible for benefits.

“Rates of fraud were only previously assumed, and President [Donald] Trump is doing something about it. Using standard recertification processes for households is a part of that work,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement. “As well as ongoing analysis of State data, further regulatory work, and improved collaboration with States.”

Rollins’ previous comments created another layer of uncertainty for local officials who were attempting to return their program operations to normal after the 43-day government shutdown. Neither she nor USDA at the time clarified the timeline for reapplication and how it would differ from current state requirements.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/20/trump-rollins-snap-benefits-reapplication-00661001

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143565792
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143568335

[Jacson6]

1. Duh! Tens of millions already apply yearly. The employed must report their monthly income.

Yes, there is fraud such as not reporting income properly and selling SNAP, but it is very small in comparison with the number of people on SNAP.

[questionseverything]

2. The bbb had language that ends snap benefits for veterans, the homeless and former foster children

Ya know, the leaches of society

🤮

[choie]

5. Just to clarify

if they don't comply with work requirements, they'll only be eligible for three months of snap during a three year period.

[questionseverything]

6. Yes, those three groups special circumstances standing ends

And they have to apply

[EuterpeThelo]

3. Back in the 90s, I was on what is now called SNAP and TANF

...while I was working at a big chain bookstore earning my way through college.

You wouldn't believe how detailed and invasive those monthly questionnaires can be. I used to joke it was like "what bra and shoe size do you wear, at what age did you lose your virginity and open your first bank account, how many calories did you eat yesterday, what are you THINKING ABOUT right now?"

Meanwhile, they'd switch my caseworker more often than I could change underwear, and even though I ALWAYS submitted my forms on time, I'd VERY often have to spend my ENTIRE 15 minute break at work on the phone -- in the breakroom - in front of my co-workers - calling to ask why my check hadn't come...and hadn't come...and hadn't come. Sometimes that 15 minutes wasn't even enough to get through to anyone. And then they'd ding me and threaten to cut off my aid for not showing up for the "resume writing workshop" at 2pm on a Wednesday - when I had BOTH work and school. Eventually, I demanded AND received a written apology from the head of welfare in our county for the way my case was handled. I can only imagine how much worse it's gotten since then.

(Note I was still having to pay for childcare, which cost a LOT more than the $123 I earned a WEEK after taxes not counting meager school grants. Goddess bless the family daycare we used, because their patience saved us. They really understood it took a village. They're retired now and my daughter's in her 30s, but we STILL stop by to visit them whenever we're up in the Bay Area).

[tanyev]

4. Early 90s, newly married, my then husband and I moved 200 miles away from the city

where his mother lived so he could attend graduate school. His mother was wealthy enough to help us out, and did. It took me a few months to find a job—I really was trying. She was getting concerned and pushed us (me) to go apply for food stamps. I’m sure her understanding of food stamps was that all I had to do was stroll in and say “No job, stamps plz?” and walk out with enough to go on a shopping spree at the grocery store.

I didn’t even make it past the first questionnaire in the lobby. They politely explained that our two cars were new enough that we would not qualify. I thanked them and left, feeling a bit embarrassed. But at least I was able to definitively tell the MIL that we weren’t eligible so she had to stop bringing it up. And not too long after that I finally did get a job, which made her feel better.

[EuterpeThelo]

8. Oh yes...

so many people think it's just a rubber stamp! I'm sorry you had to deal with that humiliation, but at least it put a sock in your MIL's mouth.

I recall the intake worker asking what my plans were, and I replied that our local community college had a paralegal program I intended to pursue. She scoffed, "so you expect the state to take care of you while you do that?" After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I replied, "I'm sorry, maybe I'll take up smoking crack and burglarizing people's homes instead! I am probably the first person you asked that question today that came in here with a comprehensive plan already in place. By the way, I've been paying taxes in this county since I was fifteen so, yeah, I expect the system to work as it was designed to now."

And yeah, the "assets" that could be considered "wealth" were ABSURD. One of my workers once told me that my vinyl record collection, which I had been amassing since I was twelve years old, meant I owned too much property and I'd have to start selling it off or risk losing my benefits. So, yeah, how dare you have ANY source of joy or nostalgia in your life, even stuff collected from the $1 bin at Goodwill or handed down from your parents (like the Beatles album that was on the turntable the day I was brought home from the hospital because I was named after one of their songs)!

[tanyev]

10. OMG, a vinyl record collection?

All the people who think food stamps, Medicaid, etc., are just handing money to lazy people have NO idea what the recipients have to go through before they get approved.

I’m sure some people figure out ways to cheat the system, but by and large those who are getting aid desperately need it.

[BWdem4life]

7. TACO. nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. Making people reapply is a way to further delay payment

[electric_blue68]

11. Good...fuckers.