(Nexstar) – It’s official: The federal government will not send November SNAP benefits if the shutdown continues through the weekend.
While some states are Raising money for some kind of continued food aidOthers are warning that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients should plan on empty accounts — unless they’ve budgeted very carefully.
SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, is a needs-based program that helps low-income, no-income, and disabled people afford groceries. The program is funded with federal dollars but administered by the states.
Those who qualify receive monthly benefits, but Each state has its own system How and when payment is released. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, which works like a debit card when one makes a purchase at a SNAP-authorized retailer.
However, the United States Department of Agriculture, which runs SNAP, says these monthly benefits will not be available as long as the government remains shut down. Although some States are trying to find ways to continue some fundingThe vast majority of affected families are being told to expect no new money on their cards after November 1.
However, if they have money left over from October, those funds will automatically be returned and the EBT card will still work in November.
“That money has already been appropriated. It’s been put on their card,” said Mackenzie Libby of the Philadelphia-based nonprofit Community Legal Services. CBS News“So we certainly don’t want people to rush to use their benefits at the end of October thinking they won’t be able to buy anything in November.”
However, the funds won’t sit there indefinitely. According to USDABenefits may expire if they have been in a family’s account for more than nine months or if an account has been inactive for nine months. States require 30 days’ notice before permanently terminating any account.
The amount people receive monthly is affected by their income, state of residence and household size. As of October 1, the maximum allotment for an individual living in the 48 contiguous states was $298 per month. A family of four can receive up to $994.
When SNAP benefits resume, New work requirements expected to take effect resulting in the passage into law of the One Big Beautiful bill over the summer.
An estimated 42 million people, or 1 in 8 Americans, rely on SNAP to help cover the cost of groceries.
