SNAP Interruptions in the US?
@PinkFloydFan (1187)
United States
February 6, 2026 2:17pm CST
I know this is an international site, and even though you don't depend on this, I'll explain it anyway, and would love to hear how your country deals with hunger. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the US. It’s a government program that gives low-income people money (through an electronic card) to buy groceries. Think of it like a food allowance provided by the government to help people afford basic nutrition.
Has anyone else had long delays with SNAP benefits? I did everything right during my redetermination, but it’s been two months and mine still hasn’t been processed. I called dozens of pantries, churches, and food programs. One finally sent me a box of food, which I appreciated, but I’m still running low.
Is this kind of delay common during redeterminations? How do you manage when SNAP or similar programs get stuck like this? I’d love to hear any tips or experiences, anything helps.
Also, can you tell me how long you waited? I just called and was #52 in line, and left my number, which was extra difficult because this old flip phone will dial each number twice in a row, and of course my SSN, birthday, and phone number for callbacks won’t go through, so I have to call again and again.
5 people like this
4 responses
@misunderstood_zombie (8231)
• United States
1h
I tried to get on for awhile and one day I got a letter saying I'm getting 26 dollars a month. This is weird amount to me, but I definitely use it.
@DaddyEvil (167190)
• United States
2h
Pretty and I get SNAP benefits, too. Her benefits are normally dropped on her card on the 4th of the month and mine drop on the 19th, which works out well for us. Groceries every two weeks is how I bought them when I was working.
Pretty's card didn't get the money added to it when the government shut down but we had built up quite a bit of extra food and gave part of that out to people who needed it in our area. (I took several bags/boxes of groceries to the local food pantries here in our city to help other people.)
Pretty's card was reloaded on the 19th, when mine was, so we've still got extra money on both our cards. (We buy ingredients and I cook most of our meals. That really helps stretch your food dollars much further. It also helps if you buy dried or canned foods, too. Boxed dinners you prepare at home, powdered milk, canned goods, etc. Even if any of those have expiration dates or "Best By" dates on them, you can ignore those. As long as the dried foods don't get wet and mildew, they're fine even years after the expiration date stamped on them and check that the canned goods don't get rust along the seams, they'll be good forever. (If anything smells bad after you open it, don't use it. Companies put those expiration dates on foods so people who don't know any better will throw them away and then buy more to replace what they trashed. It's a sales gimmick.)
I hope things get back to "normal" where you live. Good luck!
@kaylachan (82924)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6h
I have a card from my insurance company and It got a pay cut. If you were denied, (which could have happened), it might have gotten lost in the mail. I'd keep at it, and pratice frugal shopping. I'm sure you have other income. There's ways to make it streach.
