As the US government shutdown enters its third week, millions of Americans who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are facing uncertainty about when they will receive their food aid.
The Trump administration cut off SNAP funding amid the shutdown, leaving many beneficiaries without any assistance. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to order the government to fully fund the program, leaving it up in the air whether lower courts' rulings will be upheld.
However, the House of Representatives could send legislation to end the shutdown as early as Wednesday, which would also restore full SNAP funding for November. This move would put an end to a contentious legal battle over the program's funding.
But how long will recipients have to wait? The answer varies by state, with some already issuing full benefits while others have received nothing. Some states have opted for partial payments, citing technical challenges in calculating and programming the benefits.
At least 19 states, including Minnesota and New Jersey, have issued full benefits to at least some recipients, often within a day or two of the Nov. 6 court ruling that required federal funding. However, other states, such as South Carolina and West Virginia, are still waiting for their benefits.
Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst with Share Our Strength, expects most SNAP participants who haven't received any benefits in November to get their aid within about a week. However, some states may face technical hurdles when issuing the remaining amount of partial benefits.
The delay in benefits can be devastating for recipients like Doretha Washington and her family. Washington's husband works but cannot make ends meet, and they rely on SNAP to feed their six children. With no food aid in November, they had to resort to rationing what little they have and have been struggling to pay bills.
The cutting off of funds has left state governments scrambling to find alternative solutions. Some states used their own money to cover benefits, while others boosted food banks and deployed the National Guard to help with food distribution.
While some lawmakers have proposed legislation to reimburse states for spending on SNAP programs, it's unclear which situations might qualify for reimbursement in the case of the program.
Ultimately, the delay in SNAP funding is a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the government shutdown. As Congress navigates its way through the crisis, millions of Americans are left waiting to see when their food aid will arrive – and what they'll do in the meantime.
The Trump administration cut off SNAP funding amid the shutdown, leaving many beneficiaries without any assistance. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to order the government to fully fund the program, leaving it up in the air whether lower courts' rulings will be upheld.
However, the House of Representatives could send legislation to end the shutdown as early as Wednesday, which would also restore full SNAP funding for November. This move would put an end to a contentious legal battle over the program's funding.
But how long will recipients have to wait? The answer varies by state, with some already issuing full benefits while others have received nothing. Some states have opted for partial payments, citing technical challenges in calculating and programming the benefits.
At least 19 states, including Minnesota and New Jersey, have issued full benefits to at least some recipients, often within a day or two of the Nov. 6 court ruling that required federal funding. However, other states, such as South Carolina and West Virginia, are still waiting for their benefits.
Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst with Share Our Strength, expects most SNAP participants who haven't received any benefits in November to get their aid within about a week. However, some states may face technical hurdles when issuing the remaining amount of partial benefits.
The delay in benefits can be devastating for recipients like Doretha Washington and her family. Washington's husband works but cannot make ends meet, and they rely on SNAP to feed their six children. With no food aid in November, they had to resort to rationing what little they have and have been struggling to pay bills.
The cutting off of funds has left state governments scrambling to find alternative solutions. Some states used their own money to cover benefits, while others boosted food banks and deployed the National Guard to help with food distribution.
While some lawmakers have proposed legislation to reimburse states for spending on SNAP programs, it's unclear which situations might qualify for reimbursement in the case of the program.
Ultimately, the delay in SNAP funding is a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the government shutdown. As Congress navigates its way through the crisis, millions of Americans are left waiting to see when their food aid will arrive – and what they'll do in the meantime.
this is insane. 3 weeks already? people are struggling to feed themselves. i mean i get it govts can be slow, but like what even is the plan here? some states got it out quick but others are still waiting. and now they're saying most ppl wont get their aid til next week? what about those who cant afford food for a whole month already? 
can't believe we gotta ration our snacks rn 
my cousin has kids too and she would freak if they didn't get their snap benefits on time 
guess that's why they say ' government shutdown' is a real thing for people like doretha washington... idk how much more of this i can take 
[SNAP Benefits Delayed](https://www.npr.org/2023/11/06/1136991169/snap-food-aid-recipients-face-delays-after-government-shutdown)
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. we need to think about the human cost of this shutdown and how it's affecting real people's lives, not just talk about politics and budget numbers 
. it's time for us to come together as a society and make sure everyone has access to basic necessities like food, no matter what 
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. I remember when my family was struggling to make ends meet after I lost my job, and we had to rely on food banks to get by. It was tough, but at least we knew when our benefits would come through. Now, with the shutdown, people are stuck in limbo. It's not fair that states have to scramble to find alternative solutions 
. I hope Congress can figure something out ASAP so these families don't have to suffer. And what's up with all the technical challenges? Can't they just sort it out already? 
i mean can u imagine rationing food for ur kids? 
but at least some states r stepping up & issuing full benefits already 
like minnesota & new jersey 
lets hope congress gets their act together soon & ends this shutdown ASAP 
we cant keep ppl in limbo like this 
. I'm not gonna lie, if my fam was in this situation, we'd be FREAKING OUT 
it's not just about the money, it's about people's dignity too 
but what about those who can't afford 2 pay 4 everything? 
this shutdown is a total disaster 
and ppl r suffering 
. Can't they just figure out a way to make sure people get their money on time? And what about all those states that are still waiting for benefits? Like, how long do we have to wait before we know if our food aid is coming?
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especially with kids involved. The gov shutdown is a huge mess and I just hope Congress can get it sorted out ASAP #FoodInsecurityMatters #GovernmentShutDown #SNAPBenefits
Can't believe they're having to ration food and struggle to pay bills because of some politicians' drama 
i feel so bad for them and all the other families affected by the government shutdown 
can we please just get this resolved ASAP so everyone gets the help they need?