SNAP recipients' experiences during the 2025 government shutdown: implications for food access

The 2025 United States government shutdown (October 1-November 12) resulted in historic disruptions to benefit distribution for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The purpose of this study was to examine South Carolina SNAP recipients' perceptions of the 2025 government shutdown and how it impacted their food access.

South Carolina issued SNAP benefits on November 14, 2025, after a maximum 14-day lapse, for households who typically get their benefits between the 1^st and 14^th of the month. Caregivers (n = 74) in SNAP participating in an ongoing clinical trial were invited to complete a brief online survey between November 19 and 27, 2025 to assess if/how November SNAP benefits were impacted and what strategies were used to access food during this time. Descriptive statistics were applied to survey items. Responses for open ended questions were coded into themes.

Fifty-five caregivers completed the survey (76% response rate). Most (85.5%) reported their November SNAP benefits were impacted. Of those impacted, the most common response was a delay in distribution (80.9%). Some caregivers (43.6%) used new or different strategies to access food during the shutdown, the most common being community food resources (e.g., food banks; 62.5%) and support from friends and family (29.2%). When asked to describe these impacts in detail, caregivers described four main themes: constrained food choices, shift toward different foods, financial coping strategies, and emotional strain.

These findings underscore the importance of continuous SNAP benefit distribution and enacting contingency plans during federal disruptions to prevent future undue hardship.