Salem, Oregon- The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) has begun notifying households across the state that food assistance benefits will soon change or end due to new federal rules enacted by Congress and the President.
ODHS started mailing notices on Oct. 15 to people who applied for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between July 4 and Sept. 30, 2025. The agency said the updates are required under the new H.R.1 federal law and will affect more than 313,000 Oregonians over the next 10 months.
“We know how important SNAP is to families across Oregon,” said Dana Hittle, ODHS Acting Deputy Director and co-lead of the agency’s federal response team. “We are sharing this information now so people can prepare. Any reduction in benefits makes it harder to put food on the table, and ODHS is committed to helping families adjust and find support.”
The first benefit reductions and case closures will take effect Nov. 1, 2025, with additional changes rolling out through 2026 as households renew or update their benefits.
Utility Allowance Adjustments
Changes to Full Utility Allowance (FUA) rules will affect many households that previously received energy assistance through programs such as LIHEAP or Heat and Eat.
Only households with at least one member who is 60 or older or has a disability will automatically qualify for FUA. Households paying heating or cooling costs separately from rent or housing will still qualify, even if energy assistance covers part of their bill. About 29,000 households will lose FUA eligibility, reducing monthly benefits by an average of $58. Roughly 9,600 households will see reductions starting Nov. 1, 2025.
Work Rule Expansion
Starting Oct. 1, 2025, new Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work rules apply to adults ages 18–64 without children under 14 in their SNAP household.
People who do not meet work or exemption requirements may lose benefits after three months.
The rules took effect earlier this month in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Benton, and Hood River counties and will expand statewide in the coming months. ODHS estimates that about 310,000 adults will be newly evaluated under the work rule requirements.
Refugee and Immigrant Eligibility
Under H.R.1, some refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, and other lawfully present immigrants who have not yet received permanent resident status will lose SNAP eligibility.
About 1,000 individuals will receive notices that their benefits will end Oct. 31, 2025. Another 2,000 are expected to lose eligibility in subsequent benefit cycles.
Assistance and Resources
ODHS said it is working with community partners to help affected families connect with food and resource programs.
People needing assistance can:
Visit the ODHS Food Resources website for local food support. Call 211info by dialing 2-1-1, texting their ZIP code to 898-211, or visiting 211info.org. Older adults and people with disabilities can contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC) at 1-855-673-2372 or adrcoforegon.org. Contact ODHS directly by phone at 1-800-699-9075, visit a local office, or log into their ONE Online account at benefits.oregon.gov.
About SNAP in Oregon
SNAP supports about 1 in 6 Oregonians, or 18% of households, including children, working families, seniors, and people with disabilities. According to ODHS, every dollar in SNAP benefits generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity, contributing roughly $1.6 billion to Oregon’s economy each year.
“Even with this support, many families still struggle to meet their basic needs,” the agency said. “ODHS remains committed to making sure Oregonians receive the right amount of food benefits they qualify for.”
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