Millions of Americans woke up Saturday morning unsure if they can afford groceries this month after the Supreme Court paused food stamp payments in a late-night Friday ruling that’s created chaos across the nation.
The whiplash decision came just hours after states had rushed to load November benefits onto EBT cards, leaving some recipients with full payments, others with partial amounts, and millions more with nothing at all.
Here’s what’s happening with the nation’s largest food assistance program—and what it means for your wallet, your community, and the economy.
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The 24-hour roller coaster that has states scrambling
The confusion started Thursday when federal Judge John McConnell ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November’s SNAP benefits by Friday night (1). The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which feeds 42 million Americans including 28 million children (2), had been in limbo since the government shutdown began October 1.
Friday morning brought hope. The USDA told states it would "complete the processes necessary to make funds available" for full November benefits (2). States immediately sprang into action, with many loading the full month’s benefits onto EBT cards throughout the day.
Then at 9:17 PM Friday, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pulled the emergency brake. The administration argued that Judge McConnell’s order violated budgetary limits under the ongoing shutdown.
The last-minute intervention blocked the lower court’s order, freezing the additional $4 billion needed to fully fund the program. The administration had already agreed to release $4.6 billion from an emergency fund — enough to cover about 50-65% of normal benefits — but the Supreme Court’s decision prevents access to the rest (3).
"The recipients of the SNAP benefits need to understand it’s going to take some time to receive this money," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said this week (4), in what now seems like an understatement.
Inconsistent rollout creates inequality across state lines
The Supreme Court’s timing creates a bizarre situation where your zip code may end up determining whether you can afford Thanksgiving dinner.
Several states managed to load full benefits before the court intervened. New Jersey, Connecticut, and at least half a dozen other states confirmed recipients already had November’s full payments on their cards by Friday night (5). These benefits likely can’t be clawed back easily, creating an accidental lottery where some families got their full monthly benefits — averaging $188 per person — while others wait for 50-65% of their normal amount.
Other states announced full payments that are now frozen in bureaucratic limbo. New York had promised benefits would start Sunday. Massachusetts planned Saturday distribution. West Virginia notified recipients Friday afternoon that full payments were coming (6). Now, nobody knows what will actually show up on those EBT cards.
Some governors aren’t waiting for Washington. Delaware’s Governor Matt Meyer declared a state of emergency, saying Delaware would cover benefits weekly using state funds (7). New Mexico and Virginia tapped into emergency reserves to reload EBT cards (8). But most states simply don’t have the budget flexibility to cover a program this massive — SNAP costs over $8 billion per month nationwide.
North Carolina represents what most states will likely face: the state started distributing partial benefits to 586,000 households Friday morning, following earlier federal guidance to provide 50-65% of normal amounts. The USDA has warned that recalculating partial benefits is complex and could take weeks or even months in some states. The reloading process alone takes up to two weeks in many systems that weren’t designed for this kind of disruption.
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What does this means for your wallet?
While SNAP recipients face immediate crisis, the ripple effects could hit every American’s wallet and investment portfolio in the coming weeks.
Your grocery bill could rise
Grocery stores depend heavily on SNAP spending, which accounts for about 12% of all grocery sales nationwide.
In low-income neighborhoods, that percentage can exceed 50-70% (9). When benefits get cut or delayed, stores face immediate revenue drops. Kroger, Walmart, and Dollar General have all previously warned investors that SNAP disruptions directly impact quarterly earnings.
Reduced SNAP spending means stores may raise prices on other customers to maintain margins, especially heading into the expensive holiday season. Food inflation, already running hot, could accelerate if stores try to offset lost SNAP revenue.
Local economic damage
Every SNAP dollar generates about $1.50 in local economic activity, according to USDA research (10). The $4 billion being withheld represents roughly $6 billion in lost economic activity this month — right before the critical holiday shopping season.
Small grocers and corner stores in urban and rural areas face the biggest threat. Many operate on razor-thin margins and could face closure if SNAP payments remain disrupted for multiple months.
Stock market implications
If you own stocks in grocery chains, dollar stores, or food manufacturers, watch for earnings warnings. Companies with heavy exposure to SNAP customers face material impacts to Q4 earnings.
Walmart captures 24% of all SNAP spending, followed by Kroger (8%), Costco (6%), Amazon (5%), Sam’s Club (4%) with Walmart, Amazon, 7-Eleven, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree having higher representation of SNAP shoppers versus everyday shoppers according to Numerator (11).
Food banks and charitable organizations are already reporting donation fatigue from the prolonged shutdown. If you’re considering year-end charitable giving, local food banks need support now more than ever.
The bottom line
The Supreme Court’s stay expires 48 hours after the First Circuit Court rules on the government’s appeal, which could come any moment. Until then, 42 million Americans remain in limbo, unsure if they can afford groceries this month.
For SNAP recipients, here’s the takeaway: expect delays, budget for partial payments, and seek help from food banks immediately.
For everyone else, prepare for economic ripples: higher grocery prices, reduced retail earnings, and increased demand for charitable giving. The dysfunction in Washington is hitting your wallet, your portfolio, your community and even your travel plans.
As Judge McConnell said Thursday before his order was blocked: "People have gone without for too long."
This weekend, millions of American families are learning just how much longer they’ll have to wait.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CNBC (1, 3); The Hill (2, 8); SCOTUSblog (3); Rollcall (4; NPR (5); CNN (6); Delawarerepublic.org (7; Marketplace (9); USDA Economic Research Service (10); Numerator (11)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Supreme Court blocks SNAP for 42 million Americans at 9PM Friday, extending benefits collapse – here’s what happens now
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