() A claim made on social media that the federal government would be lowering the age of who is considered a “dependent” from 18 years old to 7 years old is false.
The claim stems from a provision in the budget bill, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” by President Donald Trump, that adjusts the work requirements for certain food stamp recipients under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The bill’s mention of age 7 refers only to caregiving and does not redefine who qualifies as a “dependent” for federal benefits. Under the current rules for SNAP’s work eligibility, nondisabled adults without dependents must work or participate in job training to receive SNAP benefits. Parents are exempt from this requirement if they have a dependent under 18 years old.
In the bill’s provision to the law, the exemption is narrowed and requires work or training unless a SNAP recipient is caring for a child under the age of 7. The bill does not change the following: the ages of children who can be claimed as dependents on a tax return, the fact that children over 7 can still qualify for public aid and the legal definitions of a dependent in the IRS and other federal codes.
The budget bill is currently in the Senate. If signed into law, the updated SNAP provision would require parents of school-aged children to meet the new work requirements to maintain benefits.
