On Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) began notifying approximately 9,600 households receiving energy assistance that their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will face reductions beginning Nov. 1, 2025. In addition, about 1,000 refugees, asylees, and other lawfully present immigrants will have their SNAP cases closed at the end of October.
These adjustments are a result of federally mandated changes affecting SNAP in Oregon. The alterations will primarily impact older adults, immigrants, and residents of rural areas with limited transportation options.
The changes stem from a federal law enacted on July 4, 2025, and are expected to affect more than 313,000 of the over 740,000 Oregonians currently enrolled in SNAP.
SNAP assists over one in six residents and about 27% of households, including children and low-income families. For every $1 in SNAP benefits, $1.50 to $1.80 of local economic activity is generated, totaling an estimated $1.6 billion annually in Oregon.
“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,” said Dana Hittle, who is co-leading ODHS’s federal response team. “Oregon has no choice but to follow federal law that will result in increased hardship across our communities.”
The reduction of benefits will not occur simultaneously for all recipients. Instead, it will be phased in over the coming year.
For individuals who already receive SNAP, only those who applied or recertified between July 4 and October 1, 2025, will receive notifications about the impact on their benefits. Those who applied or reapplied after Oct. 1, 2025, will immediately be subject to the new rules.
Three main categories of SNAP recipients will be affected: households receiving utility assistance, able-bodied adults aged 18 to 64 without children under the age of 14 in their SNAP group, and certain lawfully present immigrants.
Households that previously qualified for the Heating and Cooling Full Utility Allowance (FUA) through energy assistance programs, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or “Heat and Eat,” will see changes.
Only households with at least one member aged 60 or older or a member with a disability will automatically qualify for FUA. As a result, around 29,000 households are expected to lose this allowance, leading to an average SNAP benefit reduction of $58 per month.
Among the changes, Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) will face stricter work requirements starting Oct. 1, 2025, in six counties: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Benton, and Hood River. Those who fail to meet the work rules may risk losing their SNAP benefits after three months.
The work rules, which previously applied to adults aged 18-54, now include individuals up to 64.
Notably, veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care will no longer be exempt from these requirements
