The US government shutdown has entered its fifth week and there is no clear end in sight.

With Democrats and Republicans deadlocked over passing a spending plan that would reopen federal agencies, millions of Americans are feeling economic pain that could soon grow worse.

The fiscal fight means millions of Americans may not receive food aid, thousands of troops could have to work without pay, and millions may go without heat.

Here’s how the shutdown has affected everyday people.

Food assistance

More than 40 million Americans use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed themselves and their families.

While that program had enough funding to survive the first four weeks of the shutdown, the administration has said the money will run out on 1 November.

By Saturday, SNAP benefits could lapse for the first time in the program's history.

SNAP is a critical lifeline that keeps families out of poverty, according to Hannah Garth, a professor at Princeton University.

Groups providing food assistance are already under strain, and the loss of SNAP will worsen the situation.

In response to this looming crisis, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency to assist the three million New Yorkers expected to lose food assistance.

Military pay

If the administration does not intervene, over a million US military members will miss their paychecks.

A quarter of military families are considered food insecure, with many relying on SNAP or food pantries.

The Pentagon has temporarily accepted a $130m gift to help cover salaries during the shutdown, but this is insufficient.

The White House plans to pay troops by reallocating funds from other military accounts.

Heat amid the winter chill

Around six million Americans depend on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help with utility bills.

Usually, these funds are sent directly to utility companies in mid-November, but delays could lead to dangerous conditions for many.

Federal civilian workers

Thousands of federal civilian employees are also facing missed paychecks as the shutdown prolongs.

If conditions persist until 1 December, 4.5 million paychecks could be withheld, totaling $21bn in missing wages.

Air traffic controllers

Essential air traffic controllers continue to work without pay, leading to increasing staff shortages and significant flight delays.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned of widespread delays due to controller absences.