In Connecticut, the number of people enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, fell by 15% from June 2025 to June 2026 — including nearly 18,000 fewer residents under 18 receiving benefits.
In total, 55,000 fewer people in Connecticut were on SNAP this June compared to last June, according to a report from DataHaven. Enrollment in the program decreased quickly under eligibility changes implemented through H.R. 1, which cut nearly $187 billion in federal program funding.
These findings follow a recent report from Connecticut Voices for Children, which found similar changes from July 2025 to July 2026.
All age groups, except for those 65 and older, saw enrollment fall. While residents 65 and older are not required to meet updated work requirements, the new rules require parents with dependents aged 14 to 17 to comply.
“People with dependents 14 to 17 are now subject to these work requirements,” Andrew Carr, a data analyst with DataHaven and co-author of the report said. “Increasing the population of those subject to work requirements, it creates new administrative burdens for people that may cause families to lose SNAP, which has consequences for children.”
The report used an adapted Program Access Index, which is the ratio of SNAP recipients to those who meet the federal income and age eligibility standards. While not a true participation rate, it is a good measure of program coverage, Carr said.
Based on this index, every town has seen a decrease. However, losses are slightly higher in urban areas like the Hartford and Waterbury areas.
“Losses spread across the state, but also that they’re a little more concentrated in cities,” Carr said. “The adapted program access index shows that some of the places where need for SNAP [is highest], at least according to the federal income and age criteria, are the areas where losses were greatest.”
Economic loss was also measured in the report. DataHaven found that some parts of the state lose more than $1 million in benefits each month, with Hartford losing an estimated $1.3 million monthly.
In total, the state loses an estimated $11 million each month in benefits.
While the impacts of eligibility changes are already seen in the state and the nation, not all changes have gone into effect. Penalties for states that exceed the error rate, or the percentage of SNAP benefits paid above or below what recipients should have received, have not gone into effect.
“We’re in this period right now between these two sets of effects from H.R. 1 on SNAP,” Carr said. “We’ve already seen the effects of H.R. 1 on just increasing eligibility requirements for people, and that’s led to losses in SNAP … what’s important to to realize is that many of the effects that are relevant for SNAP haven’t even taken hold yet.”
Connecticut is currently over the error-rate threshold, sitting at around 9%, and may have to pay more $85 million to $89 million, according to the CT Voices for Children report. Penalties are effective October 2027.
While Connecticut has put some money aside to support those impacted by the eligibility requirements, this may not be enough with the implementation of additional changes.
“Government has taken measures to to help people that have lost coverage, but there are changes coming up the pike that are going to require a more like lasting response from government,” Carr said.
