Almost 45,000 Nevadans could lose their benefits.

Almost 45,000 Nevadans could lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on March 1, according to the Nevada Department of Social Services (DSS).

This is due to changes from President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill.

About half-a-million people in Nevada rely on SNAP, about 15 percent of the state's population.

The government shutdown and the BBB have put users in a whirlwind.

The Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirement waiver has been removed. 

The removal went into effect on December 1, requiring those people who used to be exempt to work 20 hours a week, including options to participate in activities such as volunteering, community service, or working a typical job.

People not meeting those requirements are able to keep three months of eligibility in a three-year period.

It affects a wide range of people.

"If you are a veteran, if you are experiencing homelessness, if you are a foster youth who has aged out of the foster care system, if you are between the ages of 54 and 63, if your children are between the ages of 14 and 18, all of those individuals used to have waivers," said Marie Baxter, CEO, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.

Once people have used the three months of eligibility, they can no longer get benefits in that three-year span if they don't meet the requirements.

However, if during that stretch they do eventually fulfill the requirements, those people can get benefits back.

Baxter says that folks who are still receiving them need to make sure they're continuing to meet expectations.

"So, it's really critical that people know and ask the questions now, like, 'hey, I know SNAP changes are coming. What's that look like for me?' So that you can get all of the things in place that you need to maintain your eligibility before you lose it," she said.

Correlation does not always imply causation, but Baxter says half the people using her food pantry are new.

"I'm not asking them, 'Are you here because you lost your snap eligibility?'" Baxter said. "However, we are definitely seeing more and more and more people who are coming in for a variety of reasons."

The DSS has resources and places where people can volunteer to help keep their benefits.