Widespread Technical Glitch Disrupts SNAP Benefits Across the U.S.
A major technical outage has disrupted the delivery of November food assistance payments, leaving millions of Americans without access to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds. The problem, traced to payment processor Conduent, has caused widespread concern among low-income families who rely on timely benefits to purchase groceries.
Officials confirmed that the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system-used nationwide to distribute SNAP funds-experienced a system-wide failure earlier this week. Conduent, the private company managing the service for all U.S. states and territories, reported that the disruption stemmed from an internal technical issue, not a cyberattack.
Millions Waiting for Benefits
The outage has prevented SNAP recipients from receiving their monthly payments on schedule. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), states across the country have been affected, delaying essential food purchases for households that depend on early-month deposits.
For many families, this delay has meant empty fridges and urgent trips to community food banks. “I checked my EBT card several times, and it’s still showing zero,” said a mother from Cleveland. “I don’t know how I’ll feed my kids if this continues.”
Government Response and Guidance
The USDA and local state agencies have urged beneficiaries to continue checking their EBT cards regularly, assuring that payments will be deposited as soon as systems are restored. In a public statement, officials confirmed that they are working closely with Conduent to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
“The USDA is monitoring the situation and supporting all affected states,” a spokesperson said. “We understand the hardship this causes and are prioritizing a full recovery.”
Impact on Grocery Stores and Businesses
The disruption has not only affected households-it’s also hitting grocery retailers hard. Many stores rely on SNAP-funded shopping surges at the beginning of each month, but this week saw a sharp decline in both sales and foot traffic.
According to the Ohio Grocers Association, the issue has created a ripple effect across the retail and supply chain sectors. “The slowdown in purchases impacts everyone-from small stores to distributors,” said a representative. Retailers are also concerned that once benefits are restored, a sudden spending spike could cause crowding and stock shortages.
Ongoing Concerns About System Reliability
This marks the second major EBT system failure under Conduent’s management within 15 months. A similar disruption in August 2024 affected thousands of households and prompted criticism over the company’s reliability and infrastructure resilience.
Advocates for low-income families are calling for stronger oversight and improved safeguards to prevent recurring disruptions. “Families can’t afford uncertainty when it comes to food access,” said one policy expert. “There needs to be accountability and modernization of these critical systems.”
Looking Ahead
As the USDA and Conduent work to restore full service, affected families are being encouraged to reach out to local food banks and community support programs for temporary assistance. Officials have promised updates once all benefits are successfully distributed.For now, millions of Americans continue to wait anxiously for their SNAP funds to arrive, hoping that this latest breakdown leads to lasting improvements in how essential public benefits are managed.
