SNAP Benefits Crisis: Payment Delays Hit 45 Million Americans

What exactly is being claimed?

• The claim: SNAP (food-stamp) payments are being delayed for 45 million Americans.

• Implication: A very large number of people — 45 million — who rely on SNAP will not receive their benefits on time (or perhaps at all) because of some disruption.

2. What do the trusted sources actually say?

Here are relevant data points from recent reporting and research:

1. Number of SNAP recipients

   • In May 2025, about 41.7 million people in 22.4 million households received SNAP benefits.

   • Over the first eight months of fiscal year 2025 (Oct 2024–May 2025), the average was ~42.4 million people.

   • Other news sources also report “nearly 42 million Americans” receive SNAP.

2. Number of people “at risk” due to delays

   • Payment delays or “freeze” of SNAP benefits in Nov 2025 are reported to affect ~42 million Americans.

   • Some outlets mention nearly 1 in 8 Americans receive SNAP benefits and call out “millions” waiting for November benefits.

   • USDA revised its plan so SNAP recipients will receive 65% of their usual benefits for November (rather than 50% initially projected).

3. Fact-checking on the “45 million” figure

   • The “45 million people” figure overstates current monthly SNAP enrollment, which is actually ~41.7 million.

   • The discrepancy may come from mixing different programs or historical peak usage, rather than reflecting the current monthly SNAP caseload.

3. Analysis: Is the claim fake, or just inaccurate / exaggerated?

• Partially inaccurate / exaggerated: The claim that 45 million Americans will have SNAP payments delayed is not fully supported. Current data points to ~41–42 million SNAP recipients, not 45 million.

• Root cause is real: There is a real risk/delay due to the 2025 U.S. government shutdown. Several reports confirm some states paused or delayed SNAP payment processing, and funding uncertainty is affecting monthly disbursement.

• Not everyone loses all benefits: SNAP payments are not completely cut off — the USDA is planning to issue partial payments (65% of typical benefit) for November.

• Context matters: The “45 million” number likely comes from a broader or historical “food assistance” metric, or perhaps a round-number exaggeration, rather than the precise, up-to-date SNAP monthly enrollment.

4. Conclusion

• The claim is not entirely accurate. It overstates the number of people affected if taken literally as “45 million SNAP recipients all facing a full delay.”

• But the underlying concern is real: tens of millions could face delayed or reduced SNAP benefits because of the funding/shutdown issue.

• Therefore, calling the claim “fake” would be too strong; a more precise description is that it’s overstated or misleading, rather than totally false.