When November SNAP payments were frozen during a federal shutdown, GiveDirectly and the Propel app delivered rapid $50 cash transfers to more than 246,000 people. The campaign raised about $12 million from roughly 5,000 donors and major gifts, and more than 90% of recipients chose virtual cards to access funds within days. Recipients say the small, fast payments helped buy essentials and reduce stress, even as many households still face late benefits and shaken confidence in the safety net.
How a Rapid $50 Cash Relief Program Helped Hundreds of Thousands When SNAP Payments Stalled
Dianna Tompkins looks at a mirror while she sits on a bed at her home in Demotte, Ind., Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
When November SNAP payments were frozen amid a federal shutdown, a fast-response partnership delivered quick, small cash grants that eased immediate hunger and stress for many families.
Dianna Tompkins holds a her SNAP card at home in Demotte, Ind., Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
GiveDirectly, a nonprofit known for direct cash assistance, teamed with Propel, an app used by about 5 million people to manage electronic benefit transfers, to distribute $50 prepaid cards to more than 246,000 beneficiaries after SNAP deposits were delayed. The initiative raised roughly $12 million from about 5,000 individual donors and major gifts, including $1 million each from Propel and the New York nonprofit Robin Hood.
Dianna Tompkins sits on a stair in front of her home in Demotte, Ind., Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Small Amounts, Fast Relief
Though $50 was far short of a full monthly SNAP allotment for most families, recipients said the rapid transfer helped buy essentials, calm immediate anxieties and, in small ways, preserve normalcy—like a birthday cake for a child. "It’s not a lot. But at the same time, it is a lot," said Jade Grant, a 32-year-old nursing assistant in Palm Bay, Florida.
Dianna Tompkins checks on her a new DoorDash bag in her car in Demotte, Ind., Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
GiveDirectly and Propel chose $50 as a "stopgap" amount intended to represent "a meaningful trip to the grocery store," said Dustin Palmer, GiveDirectly’s U.S. country director. Propel’s software flagged users whose benefits failed to post at the usual time, and those families were invited to apply via an in-app survey. Recipients could opt for a virtual card that could be spent immediately or a physical prepaid card; more than 90% chose the virtual option, reflecting urgency.
Jade Grant poses for a portrait, Dec 18, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Kevin Kolczynski)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Wider Impact and Limits
The partners characterized the delayed SNAP payments as a "man-made disaster" because the hardship was sudden, widespread and not tied to a single location. SNAP costs nearly $10 billion a month, Palmer noted, so the relief effort aimed to supplement—not replace—government benefits. Propel estimates that just over half of SNAP recipients experienced late payments in November. GiveDirectly later launched a "mop-up" campaign to reach more than 8,000 additional people affected by the delays.
Recipients described practical disruptions and shaken confidence. Some borrowed money to get through the gap and postponed bills such as utilities and car insurance. Dianna Tompkins, a gig worker in Demotte, Indiana, said the $50 bought milk and bread and eased a moment of panic—but also underscored her distrust in the reliability of government support: "It’s scary the government can just decide to not feed so many people."
Why This Approach Mattered
GiveDirectly has used rapid cash transfers in prior natural-disaster responses, including $1,000 grants to some households after recent hurricanes. The Propel partnership allowed the groups to target verified SNAP recipients quickly and equitably, focusing on families with children who receive the maximum SNAP allotment. Donor response—GiveDirectly reported a median gift of $100—suggested the issue resonated broadly.
Bottom line: Quick, modest cash transfers cannot fully replace government benefits, but they can provide immediate relief that reduces hunger, prevents further financial damage and offers recipients a measure of dignity while longer-term solutions are restored.
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