Many Americans are facing uncertainty regarding their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits after they lapsed on November 1. Among those affected is 67-year-old Martina Santos from the Bronx, New York. Santos is one of nearly 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has indicated that it will partially fund the program using emergency funds, but it may take weeks or even months for benefits to resume. President Donald Trump stated that no benefits will be distributed until the government reopens.

Santos expressed her anxiety about the situation, saying, "This is crazy. I'm nervous ... thinking about how I can get the money to buy what I need right now, because I don't have food stamps." She is struggling to decide whether to pay her rent, electricity, or buy food. Santos, who volunteers at a nonprofit organization, is asking her landlord if she can make a partial payment for November. She plans to visit a food pantry this week, as her pantry is nearly empty, containing only some beans, cereal, and a gallon of milk.

The loss of SNAP benefits is particularly challenging for Santos, who uses the assistance to purchase distilled water for her CPAP machine, which treats her sleep apnea and high blood pressure. "When I don't use the machine, by the next day, I [wake] up tired, I don't want to do anything, because I don't sleep [well]," she said.

Nicole, a 42-year-old mother from Long Island, New York, is also feeling the impact of the halted benefits. She began receiving SNAP in 2024 after leaving a domestic violence situation. With three children aged 12, 13, and 17, she typically receives about $994 per month. "Food is so expensive right now. So, when you go into stores and you're buying and trying to budget and save, it's just not enough," she said. Nicole has been checking her mobile app frequently to see if her EBT card balance has changed from $0, hoping for a return of benefits.

Nicole Branca, CEO of New Destiny Housing, a nonprofit that assists domestic violence survivors, noted that 70% of the survivors they serve rely on SNAP benefits. She explained that the loss of these benefits exacerbates the financial struggles many survivors face. "Domestic violence survivors are particularly harmed by this loss of SNAP benefits because of the economic abuse that they've experienced," Branca said.

Elayne Masters, 68, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is another individual affected by the SNAP lapse. She has received benefits since 2017 after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Masters typically receives about $250 in SNAP benefits, which she uses to buy healthy foods that help manage her various health conditions. "When I'm not able to pay for those healthy foods, my health declines, my cognitive functioning declines," she said.

Masters visited a food pantry last week and received a pre-packaged bag of food. She is worried about her ability to pay bills as winter approaches. "Winter is coming, and heating bills will be higher. If anything breaks down, I'm in trouble," she said.

To cope with the situation, Masters is considering ways to stretch her food budget, recalling past strategies like cutting mold off cheese or saving vegetable scraps for broth. "I may be able to skate through a month, but much beyond that, and it's going to be difficult," she said.

As the government shutdown continues, many Americans are left in a precarious situation, struggling to meet their basic needs without the support of SNAP benefits.