Tens of millions of Americans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are facing a tough time because of the government shutdown that stopped food funding. At the same time, court orders are demanding that the government distribute food aid, creating confusion and delay.
Some SNAP users have already received their full benefits this month, while others are still waiting, not sure when or if the payment will arrive. This uncertainty has left many families struggling with food and money problems, as per the report by The Mirror US. Because of this, local food banks and charities are under heavy pressure as they try to feed more people with limited supplies.
To get SNAP help, a family’s income must be below a certain limit. In 2025, a family of three must earn less than $2,798 a month or $33,578 a year.Most families that get SNAP receive about $187 a month in 2025. That means they have only about $6.16 a day to buy food.
The SNAP benefit formula assumes families spend 30% of their net income on food, and SNAP fills the gap between that and the Thrifty Food Plan, which is a USDA low-cost meal plan. The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) runs an annual SNAP Challenge, asking people to live on $6 a day for food. FRAC says the challenge helps people “get a glimpse of what life is like for tens of millions of people who struggle to put food on the table.”
Grocery shopping for people using SNAP is not always easy. They also have to deal with problems like high rent, travel costs, no kitchen, or no nearby store with fresh food.SNAP users can shop at over 261,000 stores across the U.S. They can buy things like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, cereals, snacks, drinks, seeds, and plants.
But they cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, or hot cooked food.Many people living on SNAP have only a little over six dollars a day, so they must plan every meal carefully to save money and eat healthy.
On average, SNAP users get about $6.16 per day to spend on groceries in 2025, according to The Mirror US.
Q2. What can people buy with SNAP benefits?
SNAP users can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks, but not alcohol, tobacco, or hot prepared food.
Some SNAP users have already received their full benefits this month, while others are still waiting, not sure when or if the payment will arrive. This uncertainty has left many families struggling with food and money problems, as per the report by The Mirror US. Because of this, local food banks and charities are under heavy pressure as they try to feed more people with limited supplies.
SNAP benefits and who gets help
SNAP helps people buy food when they don’t have enough money. It supports families with kids, older people with low income, and people with disabilities.About 62% of people who use SNAP are families with children, and around 37% are older adults or people with disabilities.To get SNAP help, a family’s income must be below a certain limit. In 2025, a family of three must earn less than $2,798 a month or $33,578 a year.Most families that get SNAP receive about $187 a month in 2025. That means they have only about $6.16 a day to buy food.
The SNAP benefit formula assumes families spend 30% of their net income on food, and SNAP fills the gap between that and the Thrifty Food Plan, which is a USDA low-cost meal plan. The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) runs an annual SNAP Challenge, asking people to live on $6 a day for food. FRAC says the challenge helps people “get a glimpse of what life is like for tens of millions of people who struggle to put food on the table.”
Rising food prices and SNAP shopping rules
With grocery prices rising and tariffs increasing costs, it’s tough to imagine surviving on only $30 a week for groceries. Yet this is the harsh reality for 42 million Americans who depend on SNAP to eat every week, as stated by The Mirror US. The SNAP Challenge is not just about budgeting — it’s also to raise awareness about food insecurity and to inspire advocacy for change.Grocery shopping for people using SNAP is not always easy. They also have to deal with problems like high rent, travel costs, no kitchen, or no nearby store with fresh food.SNAP users can shop at over 261,000 stores across the U.S. They can buy things like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, cereals, snacks, drinks, seeds, and plants.
But they cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, or hot cooked food.Many people living on SNAP have only a little over six dollars a day, so they must plan every meal carefully to save money and eat healthy.
FAQs
Q1. How much money do SNAP users get each day for food?On average, SNAP users get about $6.16 per day to spend on groceries in 2025, according to The Mirror US.
Q2. What can people buy with SNAP benefits?
SNAP users can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks, but not alcohol, tobacco, or hot prepared food.
