On November 1, 2025, millions of Americans lost their SNAP benefits as a result of the government shutdown. While some states were given partial aid, many were left with no payments and no idea when their next would be.
Since the government has reopened, payouts have been slowly given back to those in need. While this has been circulating the news for multiple weeks, some may not know what SNAP benefits truly are, or what they do to help those in need.
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides food benefits for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. Around 40 million–or one in every eight Americans–earn benefits from the program every month. It gives them the money to purchase nutritious foods that they may not be able to afford otherwise.
Most families are given enough benefits to spend 30 percent of their net income on food. This can be used to buy products such as fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products and bread. SNAP benefits cannot be used for things such as alcohol, cigarettes, medicines, foods that are sold hot or any other non-food items.
Those who are eligible for the program are typically considered to be in poverty. For a family of three, an income of around $30,000 a year or lower would allow them to access the benefits. Household assets are also considered. Homes without a family member over 60 must have assets of $3,000 or less, while homes without an older member must have assets of $4,500 or less.
In addition to net income, SNAP also counts money from areas such as Social Security, unemployment insurance and child support. So, families who have access to SNAP benefits are the ones who need it the most. Losing the benefits means a great deal because these families are part of the lowest-earning Americans. Most households do not have enough extra money to pay for food outside of their SNAP payments.
The average amount of money given to SNAP recipients per month is $187. They get this on an Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, card which families must apply for at their state Department of Social Services. While this may sound like a decent amount, it only comes to about a few dollars per meal every day. Money can add up very quickly in regards to food, so Americans might not get adequate nutrition daily. This is especially true because of the increasing prices in foods all around the country.
Because of the government shutdown, the Department of Agriculture did not have enough funding to give out payments to those on the SNAP program. This means that millions of Americans could not purchase food for their families. They relied on partial aid from their state or food pantries. Now, these families are being repaid, but over the course of multiple days, and some still have to wait even though the government has reopened.
