That translates to 5 million fewer people receiving food stamps each month. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these changes alone will cut SNAP participation by 2.4 million people per month over the next decade. A new Illinois program launched this weekend, providing food benefits to people who lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits because of federal changes. Then, in October 2027, the federal government will stop covering the full cost of food benefits entirely. The National Grocers’ Association estimates that the drop in SNAP participation will slash grocery store sales by nearly $88 billion nationwide through 2034.