Government shutdown threatens SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans as funding expires Saturday, leaving low-income families without food assistance.

Nearly 42 million Americans use SNAP monthly. Do you qualify for SNAP, or food stamps in NJ? See eligibility requirements, income brackets, more.

Reporters from the NPR Network are covering the uncertainty and lapse in benefits in states across the country.

A look into the Americans who could be affected by the delay of SNAP food assistance during the government shutdown.

About 42 million people receive money through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, sometimes called food stamps. The U.S. Agriculture Department told states in an Oct. 10 letter that if the shutdown continues, the program will run out of money to pay for benefits in November.

Who receives SNAP by age According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service, roughly 42 percent of SNAP participants in fiscal year 2023 were adults aged 18‑59, about 39 percent were children under 18,