Enrollment in SNAP fell by more than 13% in 12 months.

SNAP is the largest U.S. food aid program.

The drop is much bigger than the government thought.

New work rules from President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” are now in effect.

The decline includes people who do not meet the new rules.

Advocates say some people who qualify are rejected.

They miss deadlines or lack paperwork.

Arizona saw the biggest enrollment drop in the nation.

It fell by more than 50% in a year.

The state said its own problems with the new federal rules caused the decline.

Tia Fields is a policy analyst at Invest in Louisiana.

She said most people she sees lose coverage because of paperwork.

It is not because of work rules.

Rachel Sheffield is from the Heritage Foundation.

She is conservative.

She said people leaving the rolls because they earn more is “a step forward.”

Federal data shows enrollment fell from 42.2 million in May 2025 to 36.6 million in May.

That is a drop of more than 13%.

The new law now requires most adults aged 55 to 64 to work, volunteer, or attend school.

It also requires those with children aged 14 to 17 to do the same.

People 65 and older are exempt.

People with children under 14 are exempt.

People with health limitations are exempt.

The Congressional Budget Office expected a slower decline.

But by May, enrollment was already about as low as it forecast for 2030.

In Phoenix, LaDiamond Lopez lost her benefits in January.

She lost them over income and household documentation.

She has skipped meals and bill payments to feed her children.

Some food banks have increased donations to meet rising demand.

But experts say they cannot replace SNAP.

Carolyn Vega is from Share Our Strength.

She said no other program can match SNAP’s scale and success.