Know Your Benefits

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/EBT/Basic Food)

There have been no changes to SNAP since the start of the Trump administration.

A large budget bill that includes cuts to SNAP and Medicaid has passed the House of Representatives, but it would need to be approved by the other branch of Congress, the Senate, before becoming law. This means that no cuts have yet occurred, and it is unclear what changes may be implemented and how this may affect individual SNAP recipients. Visit our SNAP page to learn more about the program and whether you are eligible.

Additionally, SNAP benefits are not currently considered in public charge rulings. Receiving SNAP or Washington’s state-funded Food Assistance Program does not currently impact your family’s ability to remain in the US, get or keep a Green Card, or become US citizens.

In May 2025, the federal government requested the personal information of individuals receiving SNAP benefits in Washington state, including immigration status and social security numbers. Washington state intends to deny this request; however, we encourage households with immigration concerns to consult an immigration attorney before applying for SNAP.

Free School Meals

No changes have been made to the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, which provide free meals to kids across Washington.

There is no citizenship requirement for children to receive free school meals. Over 1,500 schools in Washington offer free school meals to all students, without requiring an application. Check here if your child’s school is included.

For schools where free meals are available but not offered to all students, low-income families can apply to participate. A social security number of the adult signing the application may be asked for, but it is not required. This is for the purposes of helping track the application, but your application won’t be denied or delayed if you do not provide one. The information on your application is also not shared with immigration officials.

Food Banks

Food banks throughout Washington continue to distribute food under the new administration. Visit the Food Bank page for more information,

Due to Trump’s executive order on January 20, 2025, food banks are no longer considered a Protected Area for ICE enforcement. That said, most food banks have a plan in place to protect visitors against ICE, and officers are not allowed beyond a lobby area without a signed judicial warrant or consent of the food bank staff. If you have concerns about visiting your food bank in person, give them a call to learn about their law enforcement policies or ask if they offer a home delivery option.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

There have been no changes to WIC since the start of the Trump Administration. WIC provides food benefits, health screenings, breastfeeding support, and other services to pregnant and postpartum parents and infants and children under the age of 5 years. More information about WIC in Washington can be found from the Department of Health here.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Rescission of Protected Areas

By an executive order signed on January 20th, 2025, ICE and other law enforcement agencies are now allowed to conduct immigration enforcement activities, including arrests, in areas that were previously protected. This applies to:

• Schools

• Medical facilities and hospitals

• Places of worship, such as churches and mosques

• Places where children gather, such as playgrounds and bus stops

• Social service organizations, including shelters and food banks

In Washington, public schools will not grant access to nonpublic areas of a school for immigration enforcement without a signed judicial warrant or court order. It is against the law for schools to reach out to ICE or other immigration officials.

Public areas, such as lobbies, waiting rooms, and sidewalks outside of buildings, however, are not protected and ICE does not require a warrant to conduct immigration enforcement or detain people at these locations.

If ICE agents come to your home, you do not need to open the door unless they present a warrant signed by a judge. Many social service agencies, churches, hospitals, and other locations may also choose to not cooperate with immigration enforcement except in the case of a court order or legal warrant.

For more information, see the Trump’s Rescission of Protected Area Policies and Know Your Rights pages of the National Immigration Law Center.

For agencies interested in establishing or updating a policy around non-cooperation with immigration enforcement, please see Advisory to Nonprofit Organizations and Social Services Providers from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, can help households afford heating, cooling, and electricity costs. In May 2025, the Trump Administration released its budget recommendations, which includes a recommendation to cut all funding for LIHEAP. Congress will need to vote on the recommendation to defund the program. As of now, there have been no changes to LIHEAP.

Depending on where you live, there may still be LIHEAP funds available for the program’s current year, which runs until September 2025. If you are eligible and have not yet received a LIHEAP grant this year, find your local LIHEAP organization here and apply.

There is now also a Washington state program similar to LIHEAP called the State Home Energy Assistance Program (SHEAP). Income limits for this program are dependent on cost of living and median income in your area, so more people are eligible. More information on this program can be found here.