Tapping into SNAP benefit changes
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MORGANTOWN – Starting Thursday, thousands of West Virginians faced impacts on their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on June 4, 2025.
Under Section 10106 of the bill, the federal government’s share of annual SNAP administrative costs decreased from 50% to 25%, a reduction in federal spending of approximately $3.4 billion annually.
Individual states will now have to pay 75% of the program's operational costs, resulting in a decline in enrollment of over 5 million people from July 2025 to June 2026, according to the Center for Budget and Priorities' SNAP tracker and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
West Virginia's SNAP enrollment dropped from 270,722 in July 2025 to 250,742 in June 2026, a 7.38% reduction. In Monongalia County, 2,886 residents were enrolled in SNAP benefits in June 2025, according to data from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. That number has reduced to 2,812 as of May 2026, a 2.6% reduction.
Section 10102 made modifications to the work requirements for SNAP benefactors, including completing 80 hours of work per month and extending the upper age limit from 54 to 64. This section also removed exceptions for homeless individuals, veterans, former foster care youth under 25 and parents of children aged 14-17.
The revisions to SNAP benefits are addressed in Title 1, Subtitle A, sections 10101-10108 of the bill.
Section 10101 explains that households will receive a temporary boost in funding to account for inflation and cost-of-living, depending on family size. However, these adjustments are temporary, and do not account for the millions who will no longer be eligible for the program.
Victoria Nottingham, the Monongalia County Family Resource Manager at United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties, saw first-hand how the Big Beautiful Bill has impacted residents since the SNAP freeze last year.
"People in our community were unable to receive any of their benefits, and I feel they've never really fully been able to come back from that," she said. "Obviously, everyone's situation is different, but I feel like that really puts a lot of uncertainty on the agencies that are serving these community members."
She said the bill puts additional strain on the able-bodied individuals who are "able to work," as individuals being paid for remote-work or "under the table" are unable to qualify.
"It's really going to impact those in rural communities if they’re not working because they can't get there because transportation is an issue," she said. "Maybe they are working, it's just not on paper. ...They're going to have to find an extra 80 hours a month to dedicate towards volunteering."
To combat this, Nottingham says individuals should register to volunteer at an approved organization to receive their hours.
West Virginia 211 is sponsored by United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties and provides 24-hour assistance to those in need of disaster-relief programs. They provide what Nottingham calls "indirect service," in which community members are connected with immediate self-referred resources based on their needs.
The database provides the state's most up-to-date information on SNAP enrollment and replacement options, nearby food pantries and community meal programs. Anyone in need of assistance is encouraged to call 2-1-1 or text their ZIP code to 898-211.
"Every 211 resource specialist is certified across the state. Once you put your ZIP code in, you're going to get connected with somebody in your area who is familiar with these resources. You can tell them your story or your situation, and they can get you connected with four or five phone numbers immediately texted to your phone, so you don't have to spend that time reading over these resources that you've never heard of and you don't have background knowledge on or the education to grasp what it is," she said.
Learn more about West Virginia 211 at wv211.org/.
The City of Morgantown's PATHWAYS To Help initiative provides a comprehensive list of local food pantries in the area, including Salvation Army, Community Kitchen and Morgantown Blessing Boxes. For each organization's contact information, visit the City’s website at morgantownwv.gov/708/PATHWAYS-to-Help.
Nottingham recommends that anyone concerned about their situation contact their local Department of Human Services branch or their insurance provider. They should also update their personal contact information to continue receiving notifications from these organizations.
"These changes are going to happen, as long as people are keeping their eyes open, and they're aware that it's going to happen. They need to be looking for these certain things," she said.