FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nevada Legal Services Mobilizes to Assist Low-Income Residents Facing Loss of SNAP Food Assistance
Free Legal Aid Available Statewide for Individuals Facing Termination Under New Federal Law
Las Vegas, NV – May 1, 2026 – With new eligibility requirements set to strip food assistance from thousands of vulnerable Nevadans beginning May 1, 2026, Nevada Legal Services (NLS) is preparing for a surge in requests for legal help and urges those at risk to seek assistance immediately.
As of March 2026, approximately 433,000 Nevadans receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The program provides eligible low-income individuals and families with monthly funds loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase groceries at authorized retailers. Approximately 27,000 people — roughly 6 percent of all Nevada SNAP recipients — are now at risk of losing those benefits.
Federal Law Expands Work Requirements, Eliminates Key Exemptions
The changes stem from H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation expands the definition of an “able-bodied adult without dependents” (ABAWD) — the category of SNAP recipients subject to strict work requirements — while eliminating exemptions that previously protected some of Nevada’s most vulnerable residents.
Under the new law, the following groups are no longer exempt from work requirements:
- Veterans
- People experiencing homelessness
- Former foster youth ages 18–24
- Older adults age 55–64
- Families with children age 14+
To continue receiving SNAP benefits, individuals classified as ABAWDs must document at least 80 hours per month (averaging 20 hours per week) of work, job training, or community service. Without sufficient proof, affected recipients will be limited to only three months of SNAP assistance within any 36-month period. Recipients who are unable to work or participate in approved training or volunteer activities must submit acceptable proof of disability or other exemption to the Nevada Department of Human Services Division of Social Services (DSS), which administers SNAP in Nevada.
Recipients Facing Termination Have the Right to Appeal
Before SNAP benefits can be terminated, DSS must provide adequate notice and an opportunity to appeal. Recipients have 90 days from the date of the notice to request an informal conference, an appeal hearing, or both. Recipients also have 13 days to elect to continue receiving benefits while their appeal is pending. NLS cautions, however, that individuals who ultimately lose or withdraw their appeal may be required to repay benefits received during that continuation period.
Some individuals may lack legal grounds to challenge a decision and will need to comply with work requirements to remain in the program; however, others may qualify for an exemption and must take action to avoid termination.
NLS encourages SNAP users who have received a letter from DSS to review the notice carefully, paying close attention to deadlines and appeal instructions.
NLS Executive Director Alex Cherup said:
“We are particularly concerned about people with disabilities and retirement-age seniors who may be unable to work but are not currently identified as disabled in DSS records.”
“Those who struggle to receive their mail or who do not realize the importance of the letter they received may learn they have lost their benefits when they go grocery shopping and find their EBT card is empty.”
NLS Can Help
NLS offers free legal assistance statewide to qualifying low-income Nevadans facing denial, reduction, termination, or overpayment of public benefits, including SNAP. Individuals seeking legal assistance for SNAP issues can complete an intake application online at nevadalegalservices.org or contact the nearest NLS office.
To learn more about changes to SNAP and what SNAP users can do if they have received a denial or termination notice, visit: nevadalegalservices.org/snap-benefits.
About Nevada Legal Services
Nevada Legal Services is a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to providing free civil legal assistance to low-income Nevadans. Since 1981, NLS has worked to strengthen the community by ensuring fairness and providing equal access to justice across all 17 Nevada counties. Through direct representation, legal seminars, and self-help resources, NLS assists residents with critical issues including housing, public benefits, and tribal law. For more information, visit nevadalegalservices.org.
###