Millions of low-income Americans are experiencing delays in receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month due to overwhelmed processing systems and reduced staffing across state and federal agencies.
The disruptions—affecting at least 12 states as of Friday—come as the Department of Agriculture (USDA) faces implementation setbacks tied to ongoing federal workforce reductions. Several states report backlogs stretching up to two weeks, leaving many families without funds to purchase food.
What’s causing the delays?
At the heart of the problem are cumulative federal budget cuts and technology failures. An internal USDA operations memo obtained by FingerLakes1.com cites “critical staffing shortages at state eligibility centers” and “system lags due to demand spikes” as top contributors.
SNAP administrators point to several key issues:
- A federal hiring freeze blocking new support staff at the state level.
- Delayed software updates to eligibility verification systems.
- Unprocessed re-certification requests stuck in outdated case management platforms.
USDA officials say they’re working to triage the delays with emergency response teams but did not provide a timeline for full restoration.
Which states are affected?
As of June 13, the following states have reported SNAP processing delays of more than five business days:
- Texas
- Georgia
- Florida
- Ohio
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina
- Arizona
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
State officials in several of these locations confirmed that system slowdowns began earlier this month after a federal directive cut overtime pay for public assistance staff.
Families left waiting for food funds
For many SNAP recipients, these delays are more than a temporary inconvenience—they’re a threat to food security.
“I haven’t been able to buy groceries since June 3,” said Myesha Johnson, a single mother in Atlanta. “Every time I call the hotline, it’s a two-hour wait. No answers.”
Food banks in affected states are reporting spikes in visits. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank said demand is up 30% compared to May.
Federal agencies under pressure
The Biden-era expansion of SNAP, which temporarily increased benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, expired last year. Since then, President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency has enacted sweeping administrative reforms to shrink government spending—cutting funding for tech upgrades and halting hiring across multiple agencies.
The Treasury’s 2026 budget proposal includes an additional $2.8 billion cut to USDA operations, raising concerns about whether future disruptions could become the norm.
What happens next?
The USDA has not confirmed whether July payments will also be delayed. State agencies are urging SNAP recipients to monitor their online portals for status updates and to contact caseworkers if their benefits haven’t arrived within 10 days of the scheduled issuance.
Congressional Democrats have called for an emergency hearing on the SNAP infrastructure breakdown. Meanwhile, advocacy groups are asking for temporary federal waivers to allow states more flexibility to process benefits using older eligibility files.
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