Economy · ArchiveMillions Lose SNAP as 1 in 3 Put Groceries on Credit CardsAired August 1, 2026 at 9:48 AM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Millions of Americans are losing SNAP0:02food benefits just as more than one in0:04three adults now use credit cards to buy0:06groceries. The collision is leaving0:08families with no cushion but debt. The0:11Urban Institute found that more than one0:12in three adults are charging groceries0:14to a credit card and nearly one in 100:16have turned to buy now pay later loans.0:19More than 5% are using payday loans.0:21Michelle Singletary reports that about0:2320% of credit card users cannot pay0:25their grocery bills in full and 8.7% are0:28not even making the minimum payment. A0:30CBS News poll asked Americans whether0:32their income is keeping up with0:33inflation. 75% said no, just one in four0:36said yes. The 8.7% not making the0:39minimum payment represents households0:40already in default on food. That number0:42is a distress signal. The big beautiful0:44bill passed last summer cut SNAP for0:47millions, including millions of0:48children. Every month a credit card0:50balance sits unpaid, the interest0:52compounds, and the next trip to the0:53store costs more than the last. The0:55question the data doesn't yet answer,0:57what happens when credit limits are0:58reached and the payday loans come due?Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗