Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Department of Human Services is warning that newly mandated federal changes to food assistance programs could affect hundreds of thousands of residents, including older adults, immigrants and people in rural communities.
The changes follow House Resolution 1, a federal law passed July 4 that supporters in Congress said was aimed at reducing government spending and encouraging greater workforce participation among able-bodied adults. More than 740,000 people in Oregon currently receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and state officials estimate about 313,000 could be impacted over the next year.
“We are announcing these changes today so that families can prepare for the impact we expect many Oregonians who depend on this resource will feel,” said Dana Hittle, who is co-leading ODHS’ federal response team. “Oregon families enrolled in SNAP receive an average of $300 a month, and any reduction makes it harder for families to put food on the table. Oregon has no choice but to follow federal law that will result in increased hardship across our communities.”
Who will be affected
The new rules will affect three main groups: households receiving utility assistance, able-bodied adults without dependents, and certain immigrants.
• Utility assistance recipients: Roughly 29,000 households are expected to lose the Heating and Cooling Full Utility Allowance, which can reduce SNAP benefits by an average of $58 per month. Notices to the first group will be mailed Oct. 15, with reductions starting Nov. 1.
• Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD): Beginning Oct. 1, residents ages 18–64 in six counties will be required to work or participate in training at least 80 hours per month to keep benefits. Those who do not meet the requirement may lose assistance after three months. Federal lawmakers backing the change said the updated work rules are designed to align with labor market demands and reduce long-term reliance on public benefits. The requirements are scheduled to expand statewide in January 2026.
• Non-Citizens: Refugees, asylees, immigrants, trafficking survivors and certain other non US citizens will lose eligibility under H.R. 1. In Oregon, at least 3,000 people are expected to be affected. Federal lawmakers said the change is intended to narrow benefits to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, while critics argue it will cut support to some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
Timeline for changes
The new rules will be phased in. People who applied or renewed SNAP between July 4 and Oct. 1, 2025, will be the first group affected, with reductions or closures beginning Nov. 1. Others will see changes as their cases come up for review over the next year.
Preparing for changes
ODHS said affected households will not need to take action to trigger changes, as benefits will be adjusted automatically. The agency encouraged residents to open all notices promptly and to explore community food resources.
Information is available at oregon.gov/odhs, or by calling the ODHS ABAWD team at 833-947-1694. Older adults and people with disabilities can reach the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at 1-855-673-2372. Residents can also call 2-1-1 or visit 211info.org to learn about local food support.
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