**Millions Face Third Week Without SNAP Benefits Amid Federal Shutdown**
Many Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to help buy groceries are approaching their third week without aid after President Donald Trump’s administration cut off the program amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court opted not to order the government to fully fund SNAP, a program that serves about 1 in 8 Americans. By staying out of the legal debate over whether lower courts were right to mandate funding, the Court left uncertainty in place about when millions of people will see their benefits.
However, there may be hope on the horizon. The U.S. House could send President Trump legislation as soon as Wednesday to end the shutdown—a move that would also restore full SNAP funding for November and end a bitter legal battle.
Below, we break down what you need to know about the current SNAP situation.
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### When Will SNAP Funds Become Available?
When SNAP benefits become available will depend on the state where you reside. The situation has become especially confusing due to seesawing court rulings and fluctuating messages from the USDA, which administers SNAP.
– In some states, beneficiaries have already received their full monthly allocations.
– Others have received nothing at all.
– A few states have issued partial payments.
States report that it is faster to provide full benefits than to perform the calculations and computer programming required for partial payments. According to an Associated Press tally, at least 19 states plus the District of Columbia issued full benefits to at least some recipients last week, including Minnesota and New Jersey. Many managed to act within a very short window between a Nov. 6 court ruling (requiring the government to pay full benefits) and a Nov. 7 Supreme Court order halting those payments.
Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst with the advocacy group Share Our Strength, expects most SNAP participants who haven’t received their November benefits—including those in states like South Carolina and West Virginia—to get them within about a week.
However, there are complications. So far, 16 states—including Illinois and Texas—have loaded EBT cards with only partial benefits. Vega notes that those states might face technical hurdles in issuing the remaining amounts.
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### Delays Create Real Problems for SNAP Recipients
For millions of Americans, knowing benefits will eventually arrive is not enough—when they arrive matters. About 42 million lower-income Americans receive SNAP, with average monthly benefits of about $190 per person. Even with careful budgeting, most recipients find that SNAP does not cover a full month’s groceries.
Things become even more difficult when benefits are delayed. Doretha Washington, 41, of St. Louis, is trying to feed herself, her husband, and six children. Even though her husband works servicing heating and cooling systems, the family depends on SNAP to get by. They’d received nothing in November, although Missouri said Tuesday that partial benefits were being issued.
“Now it’s making things difficult because we can’t pay our bills in full and keep food in here,” Washington said earlier this week. “I’m down to three days of food and trying to figure out what to do.” Like many, she’s been forced to ration what little they have on hand. Others have turned to food charities, only to find long lines and low supplies.
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### State Governments Forced to Scramble
The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states on Oct. 24 that it would not fund SNAP for November if the shutdown continued, forcing states to scramble for solutions.
Most Democratic-led states eventually sued the government, seeking to have the money restored. Some states—both Democratic and Republican-led—launched efforts to pay for SNAP benefits with state funds, bolster food banks, or even deploy the National Guard to assist with food distribution.
Another group of states only used their allotted money for SNAP after a judge ordered the federal government to cover November’s full costs. Legislation passed by the Senate on Monday to reopen the government would reimburse states that spent their own funds to maintain programs usually covered by the federal government. However, it’s not yet clear which situations would qualify for reimbursement in the case of SNAP.
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**Stay tuned for updates as this important issue unfolds and critical benefits are restored to millions of American families.**
https://abc7.com/post/what-know-status-snap-food-aid-vote-nears-end-shutdown/18147112/
