USDA proposal could affect SNAP eligibility for Florida families

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal submitted Tuesday could change eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, potentially ending food assistance for more than 6.3 million people nationwide.

The proposal targets broad-based categorical eligibility, or BBCE, which allows some lower-income households to become automatically eligible for SNAP if they also qualify for other assistance, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Under BBCE, those households do not have to go through SNAP’s asset or gross income tests to receive food benefits.

The USDA estimates 16.9% of SNAP households would no longer receive benefits if the proposal moves forward because “their income or resources exceed the Federal statutory limits for SNAP." The agency said that amounts to about 6.3 million people.

Florida is one of 46 states that uses BBCE to qualify lower-income households for SNAP if they receive a noncash benefit from TANF or other aid programs.

Sabrina Simmons, a Kissimmee resident and SNAP recipient, said the program helps her family afford food.

“It's expensive. Paying out of pocket. Like I said, on being on a low income because we're low class, I mean, SNAP EBT helps us out a lot,” Simmons said.

Simmons also regularly visits the nonprofit Osceola Response Team’s food pantry for assistance.

Richard Herr, executive director of Osceola Response Team, said about half of the people the organization serves depend on SNAP or other government assistance. He said the need has grown among working families.

From day to day, Herr and his organization serve 100 to 200 people. He said those numbers have doubled this year compared to 2025.

“Lately, it's just a common person that you would never, never think,” Herr said. “You know, it's the people that work a full-time job that has five kids that just can't do it.”

If SNAP eligibility changes, Herr said food pantries could face more demand.

“We're just going to have to rely on getting more donations and, hopefully, more pantries to open up because that's just the way it's going to have to be,” Herr said. “It's the truth.”

Gina Plata-Nino, director of SNAP policy and advocacy for the Food Research and Action Center, said Florida allows working families up to 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify for SNAP through BBCE.

“So I just want to say that if you're making $15, $16 an hour, you're above that,” Plata-Nino said. “This is incredibly low income.”

Plata-Nino said many Florida families could lose access if the proposal is approved. Her agency’s data shows about 2.85 million Floridians had SNAP in July 2025. This July, it was only 2.21 million Floridians.

She also said the passage of the budget reconciliation law, H.R. 1, puts additional administrative costs on states to uphold programs like SNAP, she said.

“So adding this on will increase Florida's costs in terms of administrative expenses or at the same time cutting off many for Floridians, which many of them are older adults who will no longer be eligible for SNAP,” Plata-Nino said.

The proposal could also affect school meal eligibility. The USDA estimates 1.78 million children would no longer be categorically eligible for free school meals if the proposal moves forward, though household income could still qualify some students for free or reduced-price meals.

The USDA is accepting public comments on the proposed changes through Dec. 10. If approved, the first year the proposal would take full effect would be fiscal year 2029.

USDA proposal could affect SNAP eligibility for Florida families

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