What will federal cuts look for Hawaiʻi down the line?
The federal reconciliation bill makes sweeping structural changes to SNAP, imposing harsh eligibility cuts which especially target low-income communities, immigrants, and older adults. Here’s what that will look like for Hawaiʻi down the line…
TIMELINE: SNAP CUTS IN HAWAIʻI
Note: For state budget planning purposes only. Dates in this timeline correspond to the start of each FFY as stated in HR1. Implementation may vary. Estimated impacts from the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services SNAP Office as of July 2025.
NO SPECIFIED EFFECTIVE DATE
(AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM FNS)
EXPANDED WORK REQUIREMENTS
Previously exempt groups who will be newly impacted:
Adults ages 55–64:
16,750 individuals affected
Households with children ages 14-18:
10,303 households affected
Veterans, currently homeless individuals, and former foster youth
IMMIGRANT RESTRICTIONS
Refugees and asylum seekers will lose SNAP eligibility. COFA citizens and Cuban/Haitian immigrants will still have access.
UTILITY DEDUCTIONS
Standard Utility Allowance simplification (SUA) will be limited to kūpuna and people with disabilities.
OCTOBER 2025
SNAP-ED ELIMINATED
Hawai‘i will lose over $2.5 million for SNAP education programs across the state.
OCTOBER 2026
ADMINISTRATIVE COST INCREASE
States must pay 75% of SNAP administrative costs (up from 50%). For Hawai‘i, this would mean paying around $14.8 million more.
ALLOTMENTS FROZEN
Allotments determined by the Thrifty Food Plan will not see an increase; future changes only account for inflation.
OCTOBER 2027
STATE COST-SHARE
For the first time, Hawai‘i must pay for a share of SNAP benefits, depending on the state's payment error rate from either FY2025 or FY2026.*
*For the first year of implementation, the state can choose to use its rate from FY25 or FY26. If the error rate is above 13.33%, then the cost-share will not begin until October 2028 or 2029, respectively. After, it will be standard to use a state’s error rate from three fiscal years prior.