After weeks of uncertainty, millions of Americans could soon start receiving federal nutrition assistance benefits again as Congress moves closer to ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The House of Representatives could vote on a funding package for federal agencies as soon as Wednesday night. The legislation, which the Senate approved on Monday, would restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits for November. It also calls for state governments to be reimbursed for any funds they spent to run programs usually paid for by the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states last month that it would not fund SNAP, better known as food stamps, for November if the shutdown continued. Nearly 42 million Americans receive SNAP payments.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to extend a pause of a federal judge’s ruling that ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November. Adding to the confusion for food-stamp recipients, some states have since issued full benefits for November, while others have sent only partial or no payments.
The USDA and the Office of Management and Budget did not respond to requests for comment on when SNAP recipients could expect their full benefits to resume.
Gina Plata-Nino, SNAP director at the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), a nonprofit group focused on ending hunger, said states that have already attempted to issue the full November payment should be able to move fast, while others may need a few days to deal with administrative issues.
“States that did not issue full benefits earlier will need to resubmit their files to their EBT vendors for processing, which may take a few additional days,” she said.
Crystal FitzSimons, president of FRAC, recommended that food-stamp participants check their state family and social services websites for updates on when payments will go out.
SNAP timing differs by state
At least 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, issued full benefits to at least some recipients last week, according to the Associated Press. That funding was distributed in the short window between a November 6 court ruling that required the federal government to make full SNAP payments and a ruling the following day by the Supreme Court that blocked the lower court’s order.
In addition, 16 states have loaded the EBT cards used in SNAP with partial benefits, the AP reported.
Although federal agencies could soon be set to reopen, experts said the interruption in nutrition aid has already hurt many Americans who lean on SNAP to put food on the table.