Congress is currently debating the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation bill, and the proposed changes could dramatically reshape how states run essential programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If passed, these changes could cause millions of disabled people, older adults, and low-income families to lose critical support.
What’s Being Proposed?
The federal government is proposing to expand work requirements for programs like Medicaid and SNAP. While these changes are presented as standard policy measures, they may create steep barriers to access, especially for disabled individuals who encounter workforce discrimination, unpredictable health needs, or difficulties securing reasonable accommodations.
States may be required to implement stricter work requirements for Medicaid, potentially changing eligibility criteria for healthcare coverage. These adjustments could increase administrative complexity, delay access to services, and make it harder for some people with disabilities to maintain coverage. Similarly, proposed changes to SNAP would raise the age threshold for mandatory work requirements, making more older adults subject to them. States would also have less flexibility to waive these requirements based on local economic conditions, which could limit available safety nets and increase the risk of food insecurity.
The Bigger Picture: Potential Cuts to State Funding
In addition to the proposed changes, the 2025 [...]