Who gets SNAP benefits to buy groceries and what the government pays for the program – in 5 charts
- Written by Tracy Roof, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond
Some 42 million Americans rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images NewsThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has helped low-income Americans buy groceries for decades with few disruptions.
But on Nov. 1, 2025, the federal government halted the flow of funds to states to distribute as SNAP benefits. The...








