SNAP’s “Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility” Supports Working Families, Older Adults, and Those Saving for the Future
This report analyzes the critical role of SNAP’s "broad-based categorical eligibility" (BBCE) policy and the widespread consequences of its potential elimination by the Trump Administration.
The resource explains that BBCE has allowed 46 states to optimize administrative efficiency, eliminate low-asset disincentives, and smooth out “benefit cliffs” for low-income working households by modestly raising income limits or lifting restrictive asset tests.
If BBCE is eliminated, an estimated 6 million people—including over 1.8 million children—would lose critical food assistance because their household earnings or modest savings exceed rigid federal baselines.
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