Nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program won’t receive their benefits on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. On its website, USDA said the “well has run dry” and benefits will not be issued next week. SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, helps provide food assistance to low-income families. Here’s what to know.What are SNAP benefits?SNAP is a federal nutrition program that helps provide food assistance to low-income families. The idea for the first food stamp program started in 1939. Recipients received orange and blue stamps. Orange stamps were each worth $1 and could be used to buy any food. Blue stamps were each worth 50 cents and could only be used to buy food that the USDA deemed a surplus.The program later became permanent in 1964, when President Johnson requested Congress to pass the Food Stamp Act of 1964. Who qualifies for SNAP benefits? Under general requirements, there are three tests potential recipients must qualify under for traditional eligibility: gross income, net income and assets.The gross monthly income requirement for benefits is 130% or below the federal poverty level. For a one-person household, that’s about $20,352 annually in the 48 contiguous states plus D.C. for fiscal year 2026. The net income is also limited to 100% or below the poverty level — about $15,660 annually.The last test is for assets, which is currently capped at $3,000 for things like money in the bank or cash. If a household includes a person who is elderly or has a disability, there are higher asset limits and the gross income requirement is waived.However, most states now have broad-based categorical eligibility. Households in these states that are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state maintenance-of-effort benefits are automatically eligible, often with broader requirements. For example, in more than half of the states, gross income eligibility is capped at 200% for TANF and MOE.Once households receive SNAP benefits, there are also certain work rules that require recipients to either be working, earning wages or searching for work in some capacity, unless they are exempted.Who is not eligible? The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, added new provisions to the program’s eligibility requirements. Aside from the work requirements, only citizens or law permanent residents can receive SNAP benefits. Law permanent residents have to wait five years before applying for the program. Undocumented immigrants, individuals on strike, some students attending college more than half-time, and people with drug-related felony convictions in some states do not qualify for SNAP regardless of income or assets.Who will lose SNAP benefits? SNAP benefits will not be distributed to any recipient starting Nov. 1, according to the USDA’s website.About one in eight Americans receives SNAP benefits in the United States, plus Washington, D.C., as of May, the latest data available, totaling almost 42 million people across more than 22 million households. States like California, New York, Texas and Florida have some of the largest numbers of recipients in the U.S. When taking population into account, New Mexico, Washington, D.C. and Oregon have the highest rates.An analysis of average monthly participants from April to September 2023 from the Congressional Research Service showed nearly 39% of participants were children under 18 years old. About 14% of participants were 60 years and older, and 8% were disabled.How much do people receive in SNAP benefits?More than $7.8 billion in benefits was distributed to recipients in May — the most recent data available. The 22 million households received an average of $351.28 in May.A monthly benefit is calculated by subtracting 30% of net income from the maximum benefit. For example, a four-person household with a net monthly income of $1,500 a month would receive $554 in benefits monthly.California, New York, Texas and Florida also receive the highest amount of SNAP benefit dollars, while Hawaii, D.C., and New Mexico receive the highest rate of benefits.Why are SNAP benefits ending? The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a budget resolution. In budget negotiations, Democrats were seeking to extend health insurance tax credits the Affordable Care Act first implemented in 2021. Republicans, however, wanted to pass a budget first before negotiating health care credits. SNAP benefits are funded by the federal government through congressional appropriations. States then distribute the benefits to their participants on a monthly basis. As the government remains shut down, USDA will not receive funds for the food assistance program. In a memo, USDA said the agency will not use contingency funds to pay for the food benefits. The federal government spent $100.3 billion on the program during the 2024 fiscal year, that is less than 2% of the federal budget. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
WASHINGTON — Nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program won’t receive their benefits on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown, according to the .
On its website, USDA said the “well has run dry” and benefits will not be issued next week.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, helps provide food assistance to low-income families. Here’s what to know.
What are SNAP benefits?
SNAP is a federal nutrition program that helps provide food assistance to low-income families. The idea for the first food stamp program started in 1939. Recipients received orange and blue stamps. Orange stamps were each worth $1 and could be used to buy any food. Blue stamps were each worth 50 cents and could only be used to buy food that the USDA deemed a surplus.
The program later became permanent in 1964, when President Johnson requested Congress to pass the Food Stamp Act of 1964.
Who qualifies for SNAP benefits?
Under general requirements, there are potential recipients must qualify under for traditional eligibility: gross income, net income and assets.
The gross monthly income requirement for benefits is 130% or below the federal poverty level. For a one-person household, that’s about $20,352 annually in the 48 contiguous states plus D.C. for fiscal year 2026. The net income is also limited to 100% or below the poverty level — about $15,660 annually.
The last test is for assets, which is currently capped at $3,000 for things like money in the bank or cash. If a household includes a person who is elderly or has a disability, there are higher asset limits and the gross income requirement is waived.
However, most states now have broad-based categorical eligibility. Households in these states that are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state maintenance-of-effort benefits are automatically eligible, often with broader requirements.
For example, in , gross income eligibility is capped at 200% for TANF and MOE.
Once households receive SNAP benefits, there are also certain that require recipients to either be working, earning wages or searching for work in some capacity, unless they are exempted.
Who is not eligible?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, added new provisions to the program’s eligibility requirements.
Aside from the work requirements, only citizens or law permanent residents can receive SNAP benefits. Law permanent residents have to wait five years before applying for the program.
Undocumented immigrants, individuals on strike, some students attending college more than half-time, and people with drug-related felony convictions in some states do not qualify for SNAP regardless of income or assets.
Who will lose SNAP benefits?
SNAP benefits will not be distributed to any recipient starting Nov. 1, according to the ’s website.
About one in eight Americans receives SNAP benefits in the United States, plus Washington, D.C., as of May, the latest data available, totaling almost 42 million people across more than 22 million households.
States like California, New York, Texas and Florida have some of the largest numbers of recipients in the U.S. When taking population into account, New Mexico, Washington, D.C. and Oregon have the highest rates.
An analysis of average monthly participants from April to September 2023 from the showed nearly 39% of participants were children under 18 years old. About 14% of participants were 60 years and older, and 8% were disabled.
How much do people receive in SNAP benefits?
More than $7.8 billion in benefits was distributed to recipients in May — the most recent data available. The 22 million households received an average of $351.28 in May.
A monthly benefit is calculated by subtracting 30% of net income from the maximum benefit. For example, a four-person household with a net monthly income of $1,500 a month would receive $554 in benefits monthly.
California, New York, Texas and Florida also receive the highest amount of SNAP benefit dollars, while Hawaii, D.C., and New Mexico receive the highest rate of benefits.
Why are SNAP benefits ending?
The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a budget resolution. In budget negotiations, Democrats were seeking to extend health insurance tax credits the Affordable Care Act first implemented in 2021. Republicans, however, wanted to pass a budget first before negotiating health care credits.
SNAP benefits are funded by the federal government through congressional appropriations. States then distribute the benefits to their participants on a monthly basis. As the government remains shut down, USDA will not receive funds for the food assistance program.
In a , USDA said the agency will not use contingency funds to pay for the food benefits.
The federal government spent $100.3 billion on the program during the 2024 fiscal year, that is less than 2% of the federal budget.
