Enrollment in SNAP, the biggest U.S. food aid program, went down by more than 13% in 12 months.

This drop is much bigger than the government thought it would be.

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

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

Advocates say some people who qualify also lose help because they miss deadlines or do not send the right papers.

Arizona had the biggest drop in the nation, at more than 50% in one year.

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

Tia Fields, a policy analyst at Invest in Louisiana, said most people she sees lose help because of paperwork, not work rules.

Rachel Sheffield of the conservative Heritage Foundation said people leaving the program because they earn more would be “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 says most adults aged 55 to 64 must work, volunteer, or go to school.

It also says adults with children aged 14 to 17 must do the same.

People 65 and older do not have to follow this rule.

People with children under 14 also do not.

People with health problems are exempt too.

The Congressional Budget Office thought the drop would be slower.

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

In Phoenix, LaDiamond Lopez lost her benefits in January.

The reason was problems with her income and household papers.

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

Some food banks have gotten more donations to help with the higher need.

But experts say food banks cannot replace SNAP.

Carolyn Vega of Share Our Strength said no other program can do what SNAP does on such a big scale.