Thanksgiving SNAP Benefit

Millions of Americans are expected to face worsening food insecurity this Thanksgiving. Due to the ongoing government shutdown there have been significant reductions and delays in SNAP benefits. Anti-Hunger advocates warn of a widespread crisis and the shortcomings of foodbanks and their strain this November. The timing of these cuts creates a severe food insecurity crisis surrounding the food-centered holiday this November 2025.

The Supplemental Nutrient Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits through the Federal government to low-income households for the purpose to help purchase foods. Benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, and the EBT card can be used at certain authorized stores to buy certain meats, fruits, dairy products, and vegetables. 

President Donald Trump wrote a post on social media platform True Social, “SNAP benefits, which have increased by Billions and Billions of dollars, will only be given when the radical left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

  Eligibility for SNAP benefits are based on specific factors such as income, assets, household size, and household expenses. Although this does vary by state, some households may also be subject to work requirements to receive benefits. 

“To the extent States sent full SNAP pay files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” top USDA official Patrick Penn said. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAPbenefits for November 2025.”

SNAP benefits become crucial during the food-centered holiday season. As Thanksgiving is right around the corner there is financial stress on low-income families, holidays can bring increased expenses, food banks are strained, and demand from food pantries significantly increases. Thanksgiving also comes with special meals and dinners which are more expensive. The holiday being at the end of the month means that SNAP benefits may run out by the end of the month.

 “This topic is very important because Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time when people can appreciate what they have and instead some feel guilt wishing they had more,” NHS sophomore Shayna Clark said.

Even with all the normal strain coming with the Holiday season and familial constraints, SNAP benefits are now being reduced by 50% for November for the roughly 40% of households that received the maximum level of benefits. This is fully due to limited federal funding. 

“I think that the reduction of SNAP benefits is really bad and there are more and more people going to food banks because of the food benefit removal,” NHS junior Rusa Ellul said. 

This reduction will impact many American households. Some households will be receiving less than half of their normal benefits while roughly 5 million Americans may receive none at all depending on specific calculations. 

“We are told to be grateful during this season, and that is very difficult to remember as people around us struggle daily to afford to feed their families. What do they have to be grateful for? Their food source being stripped?” NHS junior Lahja Kurjiaka said. 

Along with the USDAs announcement of states working to get only partial benefits out, many recipients will face delays in receiving their EBT cards. States are still working to process remaining October benefits. The white house said it could take months to recalculate the fund, and called it an unacceptable risk to take funding from something else and put it into SNAP benefits. The white house also noted that the reduction from 9 billion to 4.65 billion dollars is not enough to cover November's benefits at all.

“It’s a really heavy meal time of year and the reduction is going to be detrimental to families who need it the most,” Ellul said.

The SNAP benefit reduction and cut can also affect other economical factors such as businesses, specifically small grocers in low-income areas where generally their customers are SNAP benefit users. This could lead to reduced employee hours and potentially, store closures. 

“The government didn’t realise the impact its shutdown would have on people who are already struggling. It’s unfair and people will miss out on their family meal on a holiday that’s all about coming together. People need to speak up about what they think is right in the government to get people back to being happy and healthy,” NHS junior Ella Shuster said.