Pennsylvania SNAP participation plummets as stricter rules spark confusion and fear
Confusion and stricter rules have led to a sharp drop in SNAP participants across Pennsylvania. In Lancaster County alone, over 3,200 people left the programme between September and November 2025. Many believed the benefits had ended or that they no longer qualified under new federal requirements.
The Trump administration introduced tougher work requirements for SNAP eligibility in late 2025. Participants were given three months to prove their eligibility or risk losing benefits. This change caused widespread uncertainty, with some assuming the programme had been scrapped entirely.
State food bank officials blamed the decline on misinformation about the updates. Lancaster County’s SNAP rolls fell by 5.8%, leaving fewer than 52,000 recipients. Across central Pennsylvania, the drop was 4.8% in the same period. The Lancaster County Food Hub reported a 106% rise in community food donations from late 2024 to late 2025, coinciding with the SNAP benefit pause. Food pantries now expect higher demand as stricter eligibility rules take effect. Shila Ulrich, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, previously led The Caring Cupboard but noted no data exists on how many SNAP users in Lancaster County withdrew voluntarily.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services estimated 2,829 SNAP users in Lancaster County would be affected by the policy shift. With fewer people receiving benefits, local food banks and pantries are preparing for greater reliance on their services. The changes highlight how policy updates and miscommunication can quickly alter support systems.
