Millions could lose food aid in November as lockdown continues

Federal food aid benefits may run out in just over a week and not resume until the government shutdown is resolved.

It’s been more than three weeks since the government shutdown began, with Democrats and Republicans still deadlocked over health care cuts. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides money for groceries to low-income families, has enough funding to last through October.

States administer programs funded by the federal government. The Department of Agriculture has advised states that if the shutdown continues past Oct. 31, there will not be enough money to pay full SNAP benefits in November. That means about 42 million Americans who rely on the program to help pay for groceries will not receive assistance until the government works again.

Some states have already begun receiving benefits; Others announced that November benefits would be delayed if the lockdown continued into next week. For example:

• Pennsylvania paused SNAP benefits on October 16 and said it could not pay them until the government resumed its functions.
• California’s governor said the state’s November SNAP benefits will be delayed.
• Texas said November benefits will not be distributed if the government remains closed after October 27.

Additionally, the WIC program, which provides nutritional support to nearly 7 million pregnant women and mothers of infants and young children, will run out of funding after October 31.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, introduced a bill this week that would fund SNAP for the remainder of the government shutdown. There is currently no set date for voting on the bill.