Unpacking claims: GOP's 'Big Beautiful Bill' lowers the age of dependents for food stamps from 18 to 7 years old.

Let’s dive straight to it. 

1. Claims Made: Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown and others have claimed that the GOP's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" lowers the age of dependents from 18 to 7.

2. Context of the Change: While the bill does lower the dependent age to under 7, it only affects the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and not all definitions of dependents.

3. Impact on Households: Experts warn that the bill could significantly reduce the number of households with children that benefit from SNAP.

4. Current Status: As of late May 2025, the bill had yet to be voted on in the U.S. Senate.

Here’s a quick summary:

In late May 2025, rumors spread about a recently passed budget bill by House Republicans, claiming it would change how dependents are defined—in particular, lowering the age limit from 18 years to just 7. A popular online video featuring Rep. Shontel Brown from Ohio highlighted this claim, stating that children aged 8, 9, and 10 would no longer be considered dependents. Her statement emphasized that this proposal was cruel and detrimental to families with young children, as it could deny them critical food assistance.

Many viewers misunderstood the implications of this change, thinking it applied broadly to the general definition of dependents, which typically includes children under 18 who receive financial support from adults. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has its own criteria for dependency, which includes age limits and other requirements.

However, the change in the GOP bill only affects SNAP, specifically regarding work requirements for adults seeking food assistance. Currently, adults aged 18 to 59 must work to maintain eligibility for SNAP, but parents caring for children under 6 are exempt from these work rules. The proposed bill would change this exemption to only apply to children under 7. Consequently, a family with children aged 7 and older may see their food assistance drastically reduced after three months unless they can prove sufficient work hours.

Potential Consequences:

- Impact on Families: An analysis by the Urban Institute estimates that about 1.2 million families, including 1.5 million children, could lose benefits due to these changes.

- Challenges in Compliance: Maintaining SNAP benefits could become more difficult as many working families may struggle to prove their hours due to unstable jobs or employers unwilling to provide verification.

- Increased State Costs: The bill could raise costs for state administration of SNAP, potentially leading to staff reductions in public services that process applications and benefits.

The bill remained pending in the Senate at the time of this writing, with significant debate surrounding its potential impact on vulnerable families dependent on food assistance.