AUGUSTA, Maine (WGME) — Officials say Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued for November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Nationwide, approximately 42 million people receive SNAP benefits, including 169,812 in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
We are monitoring developments closely and will continue to assess the full impact.” Also read: Trump administration ends annual hunger report, citing inaccuracies and politicization Here’s what Mainers who receive SNAP benefits need to know: November federal SNAP benefits cannot be issued until the federal shutdown ends or new guidance is provided by FNS.
At this time, SNAP benefits already loaded onto EBT cards remain available for use to purchase food.
When the federal shutdown ends, more information will be available about the future of federal SNAP benefits.
AUGUSTA, Maine (WGME) — Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, officials say they will not be distributing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November.
The U. A. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the Department of Agriculture has informed all states that SNAP, the biggest anti-hunger program in the country, will not receive any funding in November.
According to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, 169,812 people in Maine are among the 42 million people nationwide who receive SNAP benefits.
Nearly 12.5% of Maine’s population, according to Maine DHHS, receive SNAP benefits overall, with several counties—Androscoggin, Aroostook, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington—having SNAP rates that are close to or higher than 20% of their respective populations.
Also read: A government shutdown could jeopardize SNAP benefits funding next month.
Nearly 75% of Maine’s SNAP households have at least one working adult, over half have a person with a disability, 43% have an older adult, and more than one-third have children, according to Maine DHHS. In Maine, the average SNAP benefit for a family of four is $572 per month.
“This basic food assistance is a lifeline for thousands of low-income working families in Maine, but these benefits are now at risk because the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress have shut down the government instead of agreeing to extend the health care tax credits on which so many families depend to pay for their health insurance,” Governor Janet Mills said. “They should heed the nation’s citizens and put an end to this unnecessary shutdown, stop harming working families, and stop reducing health care. “”.
Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services Sara Gagné-Holmes stated, “The federal SNAP program supports food security, improves health outcomes, and strengthens Maine’s economy.”. These benefits equate to the ability to put food on the table for tens of thousands of people in Maine. A disruption of this magnitude will also affect retailers and Maine’s food pantries, which are essential partners in assisting communities in meeting their basic needs. We are keeping a careful eye on events and will keep evaluating their full implications. “”.
Also read: Trump administration cites politicization and inaccuracies to end annual hunger report submission.
Mainers who are eligible for SNAP benefits should be aware of the following.
Federal SNAP benefits cannot be paid out in November until the federal shutdown is over or FNS issues new guidance.
Food purchases can still be made with SNAP benefits that have already been loaded onto EBT cards.
The federal shutdown does not stop Maine DHHS from accepting and processing applications, renewals, and other updates.
Recipients must make sure that Maine DHHS has their most recent contact details, including their phone number and mailing address.
You can text your zip code to 898-211 or call 211 for assistance in locating information about other resources. Additionally, you can go to 211Maine.org. More details regarding the future of federal SNAP benefits will be available after the federal shutdown concludes.
As soon as more details are available, Maine DHHS will provide updates.
There is no way to challenge this change, which impacts all federal SNAP recipients across the country.
The U. A. Letters were sent in October by the Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of the program. 10 to the state agencies that oversee SNAP, instructing them to refrain from sending specific files to the contractors that would facilitate the loading of EBT cards at the beginning of November.
On Tuesday, Maine Senator Angus King will write to US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins urging USDA to provide state agencies with the contingency funding.
