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Federal changes to SNAP, Medicaid take effect Oct. 1 in NC
WLOS • • nation
Key Points:
- Starting October 1, 2026, North Carolina will implement major changes to SNAP benefits and Medicaid, resulting in increased costs for counties and altered eligibility rules.
- New federal SNAP regulations are expected to cost North Carolina counties approximately $52 million in additional administrative expenses this fiscal year, rising to about $69 million annually from 2027 onward.
- Medicaid eligibility will be restricted for some noncitizens under new federal rules, though children under 19 and pregnant or postpartum individuals lawfully residing in the U.S. will remain eligible.
- County DSS offices manage SNAP applications for over 1 million residents, and the changes come amid rising food pantry demand in Western North Carolina as SNAP enrollment declines.
- Pisgah Legal Services is providing free assistance to those impacted and will host an online session on October 18 to explain how public benefits changes may affect immigration cases.
