Charts illustrate the scale of SNAP as millions face potential benefit lapse

Millions of Americans who rely on the nation's largest food plan are bracing for uncertainty as the ongoing authorities shutdown threatens to halt their benefits Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Activity SNAP a lifeline for low-income households is set to expire on Saturday cutting off advocacy for more than million Americans The campaign s looming lapse underscores how political gridlock in Washington can ripple across kitchen tables and grocery aisles nationwide FOOD STAMP BENEFITS FOR MILLION AMERICANS IN JEOPARDY AS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ONSNAP recipients reflect a broad cross-section of the country from working families to retirees and those facing economic hardship Benefits vary depending on income family size and essential living expenses which determine both eligibility and payment amounts About million Americans or one in eight households relied on SNAP each month in according to the U S Department of Agriculture USDA In that same year federal spending on SNAP totaled billion with benefits averaging about per participant each month according to USDA statistics In fiscal year nearly of all SNAP households shared having a job and earning a paycheck More than half of the families with children and receiving SNAP had at least one household member who was employed In addition to SNAP benefits of participants received income from establishment assistance programs such as Social Protection Supplemental Prevention Income Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or state aid TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WARNS MILLION AMERICANS COULD LOSE FOOD STAMPS AS SHUTDOWN DRAGS ONOverall adults ages to made up the largest share of SNAP recipients at followed by children at and seniors at a breakdown that underscores the scheme s role in supporting both the working poor and the majority of vulnerable The USDA has warned that if the shutdown continues past early November states may have to delay or suspend SNAP payments altogether Specific governors are already preparing contingency plans though federal law leaves them little flexibility without new funding from Congress On Friday a pair of federal judges ruled that the administration must issue November food stamp benefits either in full or in part USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins verified that directive during a press conference noting There is a contingency fund at USDA but that contingency fund by the way doesn t even cover half of the billion required for November SNAP And it s only allowed to flow if the underlying undertaking is funded Fox News Digital's Alex Miller and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this review