SNAP recipients in four states lose $188 monthly benefit for soda and candy starting Nov. 1

Four states begin enforcing new rules on November 1 that limit what SNAP recipients can purchase with federal food assistance.

Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia join a group of states that have already restricted the use of benefits for specific food items. These new restrictions primarily target soda, energy drinks, and candy. The states act under waivers granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which allows them to bar the purchase of non-nutritious items.

Indiana, Utah, Idaho, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, and Arkansas have already enacted similar waivers this year. Nebraska will implement its own restrictions later in 2026. Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Hawaii plan to follow suit in 2027, with Nevada set to join in 2028.

A federal court temporarily paused the program in six states in June. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson vacated the USDA's approval for Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The judge ruled that the USDA lacked the federal authority to approve state requests to ban sugary foods and drinks from SNAP purchases. She sided with plaintiffs who argued the restrictions would limit food access.

The initiative aligns with the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again movement. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have publicly endorsed the waivers. Rollins stated that the waivers promote healthier options for families in need. She emphasized that the USDA's role is to support Americans during hard times.

Secretary Kennedy described the current program as using taxpayer dollars to fund soda and candy. He argued that these products contribute to the nation's diabetes and chronic disease rates. Kennedy said the waivers put real food at the center of the program. He encouraged other governors to request similar waivers to protect public health.

SNAP costs the federal government approximately $101.7 billion to $102.6 billion in fiscal year 2025. The program provided an average of $188 per month to more than 42 million people. States administer the program using federal guidelines. Benefits are loaded onto prepaid cards through the Electronic Benefit Transfer system, which recipients use to pay for groceries at stores.

Five states previously planned new regulations but paused those plans after the June court ruling. The USDA now oversees the Food and Nutrition Service, which manages the national program. State officials determine eligibility and process applications. The federal government sends funds to these states for distribution to beneficiaries.