Propel Government Team — Internal Analysis
SNAP State Decline: Operational Analysis
A cross-state examination of SNAP caseload declines following H.R. 1 (Public Law 119-21). 51 jurisdictions, July 2025 through the most recent reporting month.
Overview
Between July 2025 and June 2026, 19 states started requiring SNAP households to show proof for things they could previously report using self-attestation, including housing, utility, medical and child care costs.
In those states, SNAP caseloads fell about a third more than in states that did not make these changes (12.6% against 9.1%).
If those 19 states had lost people at the same rate as the other 30, about 500,000 to 700,000 more people would still be on SNAP (most driven by declines in Texas and Illinois).
| Change in people on SNAP, July 2025 to June 2026 | |
|---|---|
| States that removed self-attestation (19) | −12.6%Including Arizona (20 states): −14.3% |
| All other states (30) | −9.1% |
The 19 states that removed self-attestation
| State | What households must now verify | Beginning | Change in people on SNAP, July 2025 to June 2026 | Fewer people on SNAP | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Utility costs | May 2026 | −11.2% | 81,806 | State document“At recertification, utility expenses must be re-verified, even if the household reports no changes.” |
| ArizonaNot in the averages (see note) | Everything: the household's own statement does not count as proof of any eligibility factor or deduction | September 2025 | −48.1% | 437,118 | State document“An Urgent Bulletin was emailed on 08/28/2025 to inform FAA staff that, for all actions taken on or after 09/02/2025, the participant statement will no longer be considered verification for any eligibility factors or deductions for the NA and CA programs. …” |
| Arkansas | Housing costs | November 2025 | −9.3% | 22,657 | State document“At any case action, verification of expenses incurred for the shelter occupied by the household (for example, rent/mortgage, property taxes or homeowner’s insurance) will be requested. …” |
| Georgia | Housing costs (November 2025; updated January 2026; updated June 2026) | November 2025 | −9.1% | 133,135 | State document“for shelter deduction under recertification, updated it to say that TPS is accepted and the exception updated to say, accept AUS if the amount has not changed, it was previously verified, AND the verification provided is still current.”State document“added a note to the Shelter section about using TPS for verification of shelter expenses when a NET income case is closing or denying …”State document“Under the Providing Verification for Increase in Benefits section, language was added to include the shelter deduction …” |
| Illinois | Housing costs (October 2025); medical costs (February 2026) | October 2025 | −19.5% | 368,806 | State document“Effective 10/22/2025, customers will be required to verify housing costs in order to receive the housing cost deduction for all SNAP cases. This change in policy is part of an effort to reduce the payment error rate in Illinois for SNAP cases.”State document“At REDE, workers must verify the following medical expenses: Previously unreported medical expenses; Total recurring medical expenses that have changed by more than $25; and Medical expenses that are incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or that have not been updated within the last 60 days.” |
| Indiana | Housing costs | February 2026 | −15.4% | 89,108 | State document“3440.15.10 … VERIFICATION OF SHELTER … EXPENSES (S) … Added examples of possible … shelter verifications as well as … clarifying necessary information … on written statements … FEBRUARY … 2026 …” |
| Kansas | Housing costs (October 2025); utility costs (April 2026) | October 2025 | −13.4% | 25,174 | State document“The obligation for shelter expenses shall be verified at the time of initial application, review and at the time of a change (including changes reported at Interim Report or 12-Month Report).”State document“Mandatory Verification That Affects the Amount of Program Benefits - The list of information requiring verification to be allowed as a deduction in KEESM …” |
| Maine | Housing costs | June 2026 | −10.7% | 18,528 | State document“(c) The type of information is one that contributes to common error trends such as shared rent expenses, reporting a rent expense that is inconsistent with those known in the geographical area, or income or tax expenses are reported as unchanged for 12 months or more;” |
| Maryland | Medical costs | October 2025 | −5.9% | 39,255 | State document“A. The following information must be re-verified at recertification: a. Gross non-excludable income b. Previously unreported and total recurring medical expenses; c. Shelter and utility expenses;” |
| Massachusetts | Medical costs (July 2025); housing costs (February 2026; updated June 2026) | July 2025 | −16.7% | 179,848 | State document“Clients must verify all medical expenses at recertification, whether or not there is a change.”State document“the Department is limiting the use of self- declarations for the following: … Shelter expenses … Utility expenses … Medical expenses (both those within the Standard Medical Deduction range as well as actual expenses) … Dependent care expenses …”State document“During case maintenance, clients will no longer be able to view, edit, or self-declare the following expenses via the DTA Connect My Info page: shelter, utility, dependent care, and medical.” |
| Michigan | Housing costs | August 2025 | −9.9% | 138,337 | State document“For simplified reporting groups that have a shelter change tied to an address change, if there is no response to the courtesy letter after 10 days, a task and reminder will be generated for the specialist to review the shelter expense. Remove the old expense until the new expense is verified.” |
| Nebraska | Housing costs | May 2026 | −16.8% | 25,124 | State document“003.01(A) REQUIRED VERIFICATION. The following information must be verified: (i) Identity of the person making application and the authorized representative, if applicable;” |
| Nevada*Counted with the other states (see note) | Housing and utility costs | June 2025 | −23.2% | 112,702 | State document“Standard Utility Allowance Verify N/A Shelter Costs (rent, mortgage, taxes, insurance etc.) Verify Verify rent subsidy …” |
| New Mexico | Child or dependent care costs; housing costs; utility costs | May 2026 | −5.2% | 23,798 | State document“An obligation to pay for the dependent care expense is considered a deduction for SNAP. If verification of a dependent care expense is requested and not provided, the SNAP benefits will be determined without allowing a deduction for …”State document“The applicant/recipient is required to provide verification to determine if the household can claim the shelter expense:”State document“An obligation to pay for the utility expense is considered a deduction for SNAP. If verification of a utility expense is requested and not provided, the SNAP benefits will be determined without allowing a deduction for the utility expenses.” |
| Ohio | Information more than sixty days old, at renewal | April 2026 | −8.9% | 128,854 | State document“At recertification the county agency does not have to verify unchanged information unless the information is questionable or is more than sixty days old.” |
| Pennsylvania | Housing costs | February 2026 | −10.7% | 210,268 | State document“Effective February 9, 2026, the CAO will now have to obtain verification of reported shelter and utilities costs for an applicant or recipient’s current residence. This will occur for all applications and change of residential address reports received as of the effective date.” |
| Rhode Island | Utility costs | October 2025 | −16.7% | 23,518 | State document“(1)If a household is to qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance based on incurring heating or cooling expenses, the household must be billed on a regular basis for those costs and the expenses verified.” |
| South Carolina | Housing costs | June 2026 | −13.3% | 75,201 | State document“(C) Actual rent/mortgage expense which has changed.” |
| Texas | Housing costs | November 2025 | −17.0% | 597,353 | State document“Verify shelter costs at application and redetermination and do not accept client statement as a verification source.” |
| Utah | Housing costs | December 2025 | −15.6% | 27,889 | State document“The following items must be verified before approving an application, unless the household qualifies for expedited SNAP or is categorically eligible.” |
| Virginia | Housing costs | October 2025 | −13.2% | 113,952 | State document“… The BPS must verify shelter expenses.” |
- * Nevada's change took effect in June 2025, before H.R. 1 became law in July 2025, so it is counted with the other 30 states.
- Arizona is left out of the averages as an outlier because of a staffing collapse at its benefits agency. With Arizona included, the 20 states that removed self-attestation were 14.3% lower on average, against 9.1% for the other 30. Leaving Arizona out makes the gap smaller, so the comparison above is the more cautious one.
- Kentucky made no proof-rule change and is left out of both groups because of a gap in its caseload data.
Recent changes without matching caseload data
These took effect after the months measured above, so their effect cannot currently be measured.
| State | Took effect | What households must now prove | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | July 1, 2026 | New housing costs within 10 days after a verified move, or the earlier housing deduction ends | State document“For Food Assistance, if a change in address is verified, shelter expenses must be explored. The household will be allowed 10 days to verify their new shelter expenses. If verification is not provided, the previously allowed shelter expense will be ended.” |
| Idaho | July 1, 2026 | Citizenship, with documents such as a birth certificate or passport, at enrollment (state law, House Bill 730) | State document“the department shall verify such citizenship or nationality during en- … rollment using secure and verifiable documentation, including but not … limited to a certified birth certificate, a United States passport, a … certificate of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship, or a con- … sular report of birth abroad.” |
| Louisiana | September 1, 2026 | Housing costs, when the household reports a change in them | State document“C-822-3-SNAP – PR SHELTER EXPENSE CHANGES *** If a household reports a change in shelter expenses, verification of the expenses must be requested.” |
| Oklahoma | September 2026 (SNAP page updated) | Proof of expenses, according to Oklahoma's SNAP page; we have not yet found the rule change behind it | State document“We can only count expenses that are both: Reported to us, and Verified with proof.” |
| Missouri | October 1, 2026 | Housing and child or dependent care costs, at application, renewal and when adding a person | State document“client statement (CS) will no longer be an acceptable verification code for: … Shelter costs, … Dependent care/childcare expenses … Beginning October 01, 2026, these changes apply to: … Initial SNAP applications, … recertifications, and … add-a-person application requests.” |
Changes posted after our most recent search of state documents are not included.
Limitations
- States that added proof rules saw bigger drops on average, but that does not prove the rules caused the extra drop. Other changes, including new work requirements, reached many states in the same months.
- Averages hide large differences from state to state.
Changes from the earlier version
- The earlier version of this page compared 9 states with 40 others from July 2025 to April 2026: −12.2% on average against −8.5%.
- This version compares 19 states with 30 others and adds two months of data.
- Nevada is not in the group in this version: its first change took effect in June 2025, before H.R. 1 became law in July 2025.
Sources and exact quotes
Each state rule above, in the state's own words, with its link.
- SNAP Policy and Operations Manual (POE), Chapter 2 Section 205 A (Utility Expenses) and Section 205 H item 13
At recertification, utility expenses must be re-verified, even if the household reports no changes.
https://apps.dhr.alabama.gov/POE/chapters/Chapter%202.pdf - SNAP Certification Manual section 6627 'Verification and Documentation of Shelter Costs', stamped 'SNAP Manual 03/01/2026'
At any case action, verification of expenses incurred for the shelter occupied by the household (for example, rent/mortgage, property taxes or homeowner’s insurance) will be requested. At any case action, entitlement to the utility standard will be verified if the information is outdated or household’s statements regarding the household’s primary source of heating or cooling are contradictory.
https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/SNAP-Policy-Manual-11.21.2025.pdf - SNAP Manual Transmittal No. 85 (dated November 1, 2025; 'This transmittal is effective November 2025')
for shelter deduction under recertification, updated it to say that TPS is accepted and the exception updated to say, accept AUS if the amount has not changed, it was previously verified, AND the verification provided is still current.
https://pamms.dhs.ga.gov/dfcs/snap/_attachments/cover-letter-mt-85.pdf - SNAP Manual Transmittal No. 86 (dated January 3, 2026; 'This transmittal is effective January 2026')
added a note to the Shelter section about using TPS for verification of shelter expenses when a NET income case is closing or denying
https://pamms.dhs.ga.gov/dfcs/snap/_attachments/cover-letter-mt-86.pdf - SNAP Manual Transmittal No. 87 (dated June 1, 2026; 'This transmittal is effective June 2026')
Under the Providing Verification for Increase in Benefits section, language was added to include the shelter deduction
https://pamms.dhs.ga.gov/dfcs/snap/_attachments/cover-letter-mt-87.pdf - IDHS Manual Release MR #25.38, Verifications of Housing Costs for SNAP (PM 13-01-08-a/-c/-d, PM 02-07-02, PM 19-03-04)
Effective 10/22/2025, customers will be required to verify housing costs in order to receive the housing cost deduction for all SNAP cases. This change in policy is part of an effort to reduce the payment error rate in Illinois for SNAP cases.
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=174362 - IDHS Manual Release MR #26.06, Updates to IES and Verification of Allowable Medical Expense Policy for SNAP (PM 19-03-04)
At REDE, workers must verify the following medical expenses: Previously unreported medical expenses; Total recurring medical expenses that have changed by more than $25; and Medical expenses that are incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or that have not been updated within the last 60 days.
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176542 - Indiana SNAP/TANF Program Policy Manual Transmittal # 11 (2026), February 2026 entries for PPM 3440.15.10, 2025.00.00 and 2025.05.15
3440.15.10 … VERIFICATION OF SHELTER … EXPENSES (S) … Added examples of possible … shelter verifications as well as … clarifying necessary information … on written statements … FEBRUARY … 2026
https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/files/SNAP-TANF-Transmittal2026.pdf - Kansas DCF EES Policy Memo 25-10-05, 'Shelter Expense Verification' (effective October 1, 2025); codified in KEESM 1322.2
The obligation for shelter expenses shall be verified at the time of initial application, review and at the time of a change (including changes reported at Interim Report or 12-Month Report).
https://content.dcf.ks.gov/ees/KEESM/Policy_Memo/25-10-05%20Shelter%20Expense%20Verification.pdf - KEESM Revision 126, Summary of Changes (effective April 1, 2026)
**Mandatory Verification That Affects the Amount of Program Benefits** - The list of information requiring verification to be allowed as a deduction in KEESM
https://content.dcf.ks.gov/ees/KEESM/SOC_Rev_126_04_26.html - SNAP Rule #245A - Verification Updates, 10-144 C.M.R. Ch. 301, Sections 222-5, 666-6, 666-9 and 999-1 (adopted; notice posted Jun 24, 2026; effective June 28, 2026)
(c) The type of information is one that contributes to common error trends such as shared rent expenses, reporting a rent expense that is inconsistent with those known in the geographical area, or income or tax expenses are reported as unchanged for 12 months or more;
https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/144c301-2026-133-NSC.docx - Maryland SNAP Manual Section 408 Verification, edition 'REVISED OCTOBER 2025' (replacing 'REVISED JULY 2023'); no Action Transmittal found for the medical change (AT 26-05, effective 2025-10-01, restates the 2021 shelter rule)
A. The following information must be re-verified at recertification: a. Gross non-excludable income b. Previously unreported and total recurring medical expenses; c. Shelter and utility expenses;
https://dhs.maryland.gov/documents/FIA/Manuals/Supplemental%20Nutrition%20Assistance%20Program%20%28SNAP%29/408%20Verification/408-Verification-OCT-2025.pdf - DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2025-30, 'SNAP: Recertification Process Updates' (July 23, 2025)
Clients must verify all medical expenses at recertification, whether or not there is a change.
https://eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us/DTA/PolicyOnline/olg%20docs/olgtm/2025/30.pdf - DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2026-13, 'Cross Programs: Limitations on the Use of Self-Declarations for Optional Expenses' (February 10, 2026); reissued as OLGT 2026-13A (2026-05-19) and 2026-13B (2026-06-01)
the Department is limiting the use of self- declarations for the following: … Shelter expenses … Utility expenses … Medical expenses (both those within the Standard Medical Deduction range as well as actual expenses) … Dependent care expenses
https://eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us/DTA/PolicyOnline/olg%20docs/olgtm/2026/13.pdf - DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2026-31, 'Cross Programs: Updates to Limitations on the Use of Self-Declarations' (June 1, 2026)
During case maintenance, clients will no longer be able to view, edit, or self-declare the following expenses via the DTA Connect My Info page: shelter, utility, dependent care, and medical.
https://eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us/DTA/PolicyOnline/olg%20docs/olgtm/2026/31.pdf - MDHHS Bridges Policy Bulletin BPB 2025-021, 'Shelter Expenses' (issued 7-1-2025, EFFECTIVE August 1, 2025), changed BEM 554
For simplified reporting groups that have a shelter change tied to an address change, if there is no response to the courtesy letter after 10 days, a task and reminder will be generated for the specialist to review the shelter expense. Remove the old expense until the new expense is verified.
https://mdhhs-pres-prod.michigan.gov/OLMWeb/ex/BP/Public/BPB/2025-021.pdf - Emergency Regulations, Title 475 NAC 2 (Household Processing) and 3 (Eligibility), approved by the Governor 2026-05-06 under Neb. Rev. Stat. 84-901.04(3), effective through 2026-08-04; made permanent as 475 NAC 2 and 3 effective 2026-07-28 (Docket 26-022)
003.01(A) REQUIRED VERIFICATION. The following information must be verified: (i) Identity of the person making application and the authorized representative, if applicable;
https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/regulations/Emergency%20Regs/475%20NAC%202%20%26%203.pdf - Amendment to 8.100.130 NMAC, Sections 26 and 28, adopted rule printed in the New Mexico Register, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8, April 21, 2026, effective 5/1/2026
An obligation to pay for the dependent care expense is considered a deduction for SNAP. If verification of a dependent care expense is requested and not provided, the SNAP benefits will be determined without allowing a deduction for
https://prod-rf-lambda.rtssaas.com/PublicFiles/d89c47bd0d70402dba89b03a22bda6d1/c6cf93c5-1001-4327-bb7b-8d62415b4182/8.100.130amend.pdf - Amendment to 8.100.130 NMAC, Sections 26 and 28, adopted rule printed in the New Mexico Register, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8, April 21, 2026, effective 5/1/2026
The applicant/recipient is required to provide verification to determine if the household can claim the shelter expense:
https://prod-rf-lambda.rtssaas.com/PublicFiles/d89c47bd0d70402dba89b03a22bda6d1/c6cf93c5-1001-4327-bb7b-8d62415b4182/8.100.130amend.pdf - Amendment to 8.100.130 NMAC, Sections 26 and 28, adopted rule printed in the New Mexico Register, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8, April 21, 2026, effective 5/1/2026
An obligation to pay for the utility expense is considered a deduction for SNAP. If verification of a utility expense is requested and not provided, the SNAP benefits will be determined without allowing a deduction for the utility expenses.
https://prod-rf-lambda.rtssaas.com/PublicFiles/d89c47bd0d70402dba89b03a22bda6d1/c6cf93c5-1001-4327-bb7b-8d62415b4182/8.100.130amend.pdf - Food Assistance Transmittal Letter No. 471 (March 24, 2026), amending OAC 5101:4-2-09(J) and 5101:4-7-07(E)(1), effective 04/01/2026
At recertification the county agency does not have to verify unchanged information unless the information is questionable or is more than sixty days old.
https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/v1774294123/jfs.ohio.gov/EBS/Programs%20Rules%20and%20Resources/Food%20Assistance/Food%20Assistance%20Transmittal%20Letters/2026/FATL_471_Food_assistance_SUA_FRA_HR1_and_Change_Processing_Rule_Updates.pdf - PA DHS Office of Income Maintenance Operations Memorandum #26-02-01, 'Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Shelter and Utility Verification Changes' (February 9, 2026)
Effective February 9, 2026, the CAO will now have to obtain verification of reported shelter and utilities costs for an applicant or recipient’s current residence. This will occur for all applications and change of residential address reports received as of the effective date.
https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/docs/publications/oim-pcs-and-ops-memos/ops-26-02-01-snap.pdf - 218-RICR-20-00-1 Emergency Amendment effective 10/29/2025 to 11/05/2025 (reg_id 13412), re-filed 11/05/2025 to 04/05/2026 (reg_id 13414), made permanent by the Amendment effective 04/05/2026 (reg_id 13456)
(1)If a household is to qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance based on incurring heating or cooling expenses, the household must be billed on a regular basis for those costs and the expenses verified.
https://rules.sos.ri.gov/Regulations/part/218-20-00-1?reg_id=13412 - SC DSS SNAP Policy Manual Volume 70 (June 2026), §5.8(1); revision entry printed in Volume 71 Appendix 1
(C) Actual rent/mortgage expense which has changed.
https://dss.sc.gov/media/mgajyavb/snap-manual-volume-71-final.pdf - Texas HHSC MEPD and TW Bulletin 25-23, 'Mandatory Shelter Costs Verification', dated Nov. 21, 2025; revised and reissued 2026-03-05 as 'Revised - Mandatory Shelter Costs Verification'
Verify shelter costs at application and redetermination and do not accept client statement as a verification source.
https://fhb.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/revised-mepd-and-twh-bulletin-25-23.pdf - Utah DWS Eligibility Manual §720-2 Required Verifications - SNAP and §442-6 Shelter Cost Deduction - SNAP, both 'Policy Effective: December 1, 2025'
The following items must be verified before approving an application, unless the household qualifies for expedited SNAP or is categorically eligible.
https://jobs.utah.gov/infosource/eligibilitymanual/700_Eligibility_Process_and_Case_Maintenance/720-2_Required_Verifications_-_SNAP.htm - VDSS SNAP Manual (Volume V) Transmittal #36, signed September 18, 2025, revising Part III (Verification/Documentation) and Part X (Income Deductions) in their entirety
e. Shelter Expenses Households must declare their shelter costs to receive a deduction for such expenses. Households must also declare their responsibility for heating or cooling expenses or their responsibility for telephone costs for entitlement to use the standard utility allowance or the telephone standard, respectively. The BPS must verify shelter expenses.
https://www.dss.virginia.gov/media/vdss/benefit-programs/documents/snap/transmittals/SNAP-Transmittal-36.pdf - FAA Urgent Bulletin emailed 08/28/2025, restated in What's Changed on 09/02/2025; codified in the manual 10/27/2025
An Urgent Bulletin was emailed on 08/28/2025 to inform FAA staff that, for all actions taken on or after 09/02/2025, the participant statement will no longer be considered verification for any eligibility factors or deductions for the NA and CA programs. Additionally, collateral contact verification will also be limited to certain situations. This will assist our agency in improving our current error rate by ensuring we have accurate verification to support our case determinations.
https://dbmefaapolicy.azdes.gov/Archived_Policy/baggage/2025-09-02_What%E2%80%99sChanged.pdf - Nevada DWSS press release of June 9, 2025, 'Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services updates shelter expense verification requirements'; codified by E&P Manual Transmittal Letter 16/25 of September 04, 2025, which transmitted E&P A-200 and superseded MTL 03/21
Standard Utility Allowance Verify N/A Shelter Costs (rent, mortgage, taxes, insurance etc.) Verify Verify rent subsidy
https://www.dss.nv.gov/siteassets/dwss.nv.gov/content/eligibility/eligibility--payments/chapter-a-200-verificaiton-and-documentation.pdf - KEESM Revision 129, Summary of Changes (effective July 1, 2026): KEESM 9121.2 and 9122.7; Appendix T-10
For Food Assistance, if a change in address is verified, shelter expenses must be explored. The household will be allowed 10 days to verify their new shelter expenses. If verification is not provided, the previously allowed shelter expense will be ended.
https://content.dcf.ks.gov/ees/keesm/current/keesm9122.htm - Idaho House Bill 730 (2026), engrossed; new Idaho Code 56-205A and amended 56-211; reported signed by the Governor April 2, 2026; Session Law Chapter 294; emergency clause setting 2026-07-01
the department shall verify such citizenship or nationality during en- … rollment using secure and verifiable documentation, including but not … limited to a certified birth certificate, a United States passport, a … certificate of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship, or a con- … sular report of birth abroad.
https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/H0730E1.pdf - Louisiana Economic Stability Policy Manual C-820-SNAP Actions on Changes, sub-document C-822-3 (PO and PR), 'Effective Date September 1, 2026' (PowerDMS document 398896)
C-822-3-SNAP – PR SHELTER EXPENSE CHANGES *** If a household reports a change in shelter expenses, verification of the expenses must be requested.
https://public.powerdms.com/ladcfs/documents/398896 - Oklahoma Human Services SNAP page, updated September 24, 2026 (the page's own Last-Modified stamp, 24-09-2026); read 2026-10-08
We can only count expenses that are both: Reported to us, and Verified with proof.
https://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/services/snap.html - Missouri Family Support Division memo IM-33, 'Update to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Verification Requirements', dated August 24, 2026, effective October 1, 2026
client statement (CS) will no longer be an acceptable verification code for: … Shelter costs, … Dependent care/childcare expenses … Beginning October 01, 2026, these changes apply to: … Initial SNAP applications, … recertifications, and … add-a-person application requests.
https://my.mo.gov/cms_fsd?id=fsd_policy_manual&sysparm_article=KB0015341
Figures are rounded from the project's caseload analysis:
| headline | 19 states that added proof rules | −12.6% | 30 other states | −9.1% | July 2025 to June 2026 || extra | 19 states, 30 other states | 505,614 | 705,746 | about 500,000 to 700,000 | 81% and 67% || with-az | 20 states including Arizona | −14.3% | 30 other states | −9.1% | July 2025 to June 2026 || AL | cohort | Alabama | Utility costs | May 2026 | −11.2% | 81,806 || AR | cohort | Arkansas | Housing costs | November 2025 | −9.3% | 22,657 || GA | cohort | Georgia | Housing costs (November 2025; updated January 2026; updated June 2026) | November 2025 | −9.1% | 133,135 || IL | cohort | Illinois | Housing costs (October 2025); medical costs (February 2026) | October 2025 | −19.5% | 368,806 || IN | cohort | Indiana | Housing costs | February 2026 | −15.4% | 89,108 || KS | cohort | Kansas | Housing costs (October 2025); utility costs (April 2026) | October 2025 | −13.4% | 25,174 || ME | cohort | Maine | Housing costs | June 2026 | −10.7% | 18,528 || MD | cohort | Maryland | Medical costs | October 2025 | −5.9% | 39,255 || MA | cohort | Massachusetts | Medical costs (July 2025); housing costs (February 2026; updated June 2026) | July 2025 | −16.7% | 179,848 || MI | cohort | Michigan | Housing costs | August 2025 | −9.9% | 138,337 || NE | cohort | Nebraska | Housing costs | May 2026 | −16.8% | 25,124 || NM | cohort | New Mexico | Child or dependent care costs; housing costs; utility costs | May 2026 | −5.2% | 23,798 || OH | cohort | Ohio | Information more than sixty days old, at renewal | April 2026 | −8.9% | 128,854 || PA | cohort | Pennsylvania | Housing costs | February 2026 | −10.7% | 210,268 || RI | cohort | Rhode Island | Utility costs | October 2025 | −16.7% | 23,518 || SC | cohort | South Carolina | Housing costs | June 2026 | −13.3% | 75,201 || TX | cohort | Texas | Housing costs | November 2025 | −17.0% | 597,353 || UT | cohort | Utah | Housing costs | December 2025 | −15.6% | 27,889 || VA | cohort | Virginia | Housing costs | October 2025 | −13.2% | 113,952 || AZ | outside | Arizona | Everything: the household's own statement does not count as proof of any eligibility factor or deduction | September 2025 | −48.1% | 437,118 || NV | outside | Nevada | Housing and utility costs | June 2025 | −23.2% | 112,702 || NV-note | Nevada's first change took effect in June 2025, before H.R. 1 became law in July 2025, so it is counted with the 30 other states || AZ-note | Arizona is left out of both groups as a staffing-collapse outlier || KY-note | Kentucky: no proof-rule change found; left out of both groups because of a gap in its caseload data || published | 9 states in the earlier version | −12.2% | 40 other states | −8.5% | July 2025 to April 2026 |
State reports
All 51 jurisdictions. Each state report contains: a narrative summary, an interactive caseload chart annotated with operational-change nodes, lifecycle-phase bullets, an atmospheric-posture classification (5 categories), recipient signals, data gaps, and source citations.
Self-attestation removal tier — definitions
Each state's group comes from its own dated rules, manuals and bulletins. "Costs" here means housing, utility, medical, and child or dependent care costs.
A — Comprehensive. The state stopped accepting a household's own word as proof for anything.
B — Piecemeal. The state started requiring proof of at least one cost in July 2025 or later.
C — Baseline strict. No new proof rule since July 2025, because the state already required proof of housing costs.
E — No change. No new proof rule since July 2025, and the state still takes the household's word for housing costs, or checks only when something looks wrong.
All tiers
A — Comprehensive
B — Piecemeal
C — Baseline strict
E — No change
Code
State
Decline
Standard certification (most households)
Self-att removal
ABAWD counting starts
ABAWD work-requirement rollout timeline
How the OBBBA / HR1 (P.L. 119-21) ABAWD work-requirement expansion came into force across all 53 jurisdictions, July 2025 – December 2026 — when each state's waiver ended, when enforcement (the first countable month) began, when the first cohorts lose benefits, the single lawsuit that reset the cohort's timeline, and the 36-month clock windows that open or close in this period. Every chip opens a sourced detail panel with direct quotes and links. Open the full timeline in a new tab →
SNAP forms audit
Every publicly accessible SNAP form across all 51 jurisdictions — … catalogued (audit built June 5, 2026), with the modernization spectrum, per-state cards, and a recertification deep-dive. Open the full forms viewer in a new tab →
Local SNAP help — advocate & community orgs
The single best public SNAP-help organization we identified for each of the 51 jurisdictions, drawn from public community-org and legal-aid websites and ingested into the Policy Oracle. Click an org to open its public SNAP resource page. Data as of June 13, 2026.