How SNAP benefits are normally administered Over 40 million Americans are enrolled in SNAP.
While SNAP is a federally funded program run by the USDA, states are responsible for administering benefits and setting their own disbursement dates.
However, it’s unclear if the USDA plans to utilize those funds to ensure November SNAP benefits.
During the government shutdowns in 2018 and 2019, the USDA disbursed SNAP funds early to prevent benefits from running out, Plata-Nino said.
“This administration didn’t do any of that [this time], but they still have the contingency funding …” Plata-Nino said.
Food stamp recipients who are struggling to pay for groceries are being warned by their states that they might not receive their benefits in November.
A notice from the Pennsylvania state website states that “SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits will not be paid starting October 16 until the federal government shutdown ends and funds are released to PA.”.
Other states have sent out similar notices, including New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Texas.
Following the U.S., the announcements flow in. S. The federal food stamp program’s governing agency, the Department of Agriculture, wrote to state agencies in October. 10 stating that there will be “insufficient funds” to pay full November SNAP benefits if the appropriations lapse persists.
After CBS News contacted the White House for comment, the USDA shared the letter it sent to states. Regarding what a funding lapse might mean for the millions of Americans who depend on the program, both chose not to comment. The consequences, however, could be disastrous, according to advocates.
Gina Plata-Nino, interim director for SNAP at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger, stated, “These are, for the most part, working individuals who still are living paycheck to paycheck.”.
The standard procedure for administering SNAP benefits.
More than 40 million Americans are SNAP participants. On average, recipients receive $187 in prepaid cards, or about $6 a day, which they can use to purchase dairy products, meat, produce, and other essential household foods.
States are in charge of managing benefits and determining when they are disbursed, even though SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the USDA. According to the Food Research and Action Center’s (FRAC) website, the initiative is a “sensitive collaboration between public and private organizations.”. “.”.
States submit electronic case files containing SNAP recipient information to an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor each month so that the vendor can process the information and load the recipients’ cards at the beginning of each month, guaranteeing benefits are available.
Plata-Nino clarified, “EBT processors have to get all of this data in time.”. “They must be able to process the payment so that the shopkeeper can swipe the money when the customer uses their card at that EBT retailer. “,”.
But the shutdown has made things more difficult. The letter was sent to state agencies in October. 10. The USDA instructed states to wait “until further notice” before sending electronic files to EBT vendors. November benefits could be delayed or disrupted as a result of the pause.
Deb Powers, 66, a SNAP recipient from Massachusetts, told CBS News that “letting people go hungry is a choice, and it’s not a good one.”.
unforeseen financial support.
According to Plata-Nino, the USDA could use its contingency funds as one method of paying for SNAP expenses. During the Biden administration, the reserve was $6 billion, according to FRAC.
In October, Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach a consensus on extending government funding. 1, 2025, USDA stated in its Lapse of Funding plan that multiyear contingency funds have been allocated to the SNAP program, which could be utilized to pay for state administrative costs in the event of a federal government shutdown.
“If a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year, these multiyear contingency funds can also be used to fund participant benefits,” the plan says.
It is unclear, though, if USDA intends to use those monies to guarantee SNAP benefits in November. A request for comment from CBS News regarding whether that option is being considered was not answered by the agency.
To keep benefits from running out during the 2018 and 2019 government shutdowns, USDA paid out SNAP funds ahead of schedule, according to Plata-Nino.
Despite not doing any of that [this time], the administration still has the contingency funding dot. “Plata-Nino stated. Since they have the funds, it is essentially a policy decision. “..”.
States might also try to find funds in their own budgets to help close the gap, but this would be difficult to approve because SNAP benefits cost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars a month. It’s unclear if states would receive their money back.
Connecticut’s Department of Social Services deputy commissioner, Peter Hadler, told state lawmakers Thursday that he does not anticipate federal reimbursement to states.
