The revised benefits, set to impact approximately 42 million Americans, come as the federal government’s funding standoff extends into its 36th day, surpassing the previous record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. With regular appropriations to fund SNAP exhausted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been forced to use emergency contingency funds to provide partial payments for November.
SNAP Benefits Reduced by 35% for November
Initially, the USDA had anticipated reducing SNAP benefits by 50% due to the government shutdown, which has left the program without its usual funding. However, according to a memo from USDA Deputy Under Secretary Patrick Penn, the reduction has been revised to 35% instead. This means that beneficiaries will receive 65% of their usual allotments for November, an improvement over the earlier estimate.
The USDA memo clarified that this adjustment is a temporary measure, and once the shutdown ends and regular appropriations are restored, SNAP recipients will receive the full benefits they are entitled to. For example, under the original guidelines, a family of four in the contiguous U.S. would have received just $497 in benefits for November, representing 50% of the typical maximum of $975. With the revised reduction, this has been increased to $646, though still far below the usual amount.
This revision affects the 42 million people who rely on SNAP, including vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and low-income families. These cuts are particularly concerning as many of these households are already facing rising food costs and financial strain.
Delays and Impact of the Shutdown on Distribution
While partial benefits have been confirmed, the practicalities of distributing them are still complicated by the ongoing shutdown. The USDA has warned that it may take time for EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards to be reloaded with the reduced funds, with some states reporting delays of up to two weeks in processing the payments.
Moreover, states are handling the situation differently, which means that SNAP recipients could face a variety of timelines before they receive their partial benefits. In some states, like New Mexico and Virginia, officials have used state emergency funds to help reload EBT cards, while others are still waiting for the federal government to act. According to the USDA, full payments will not be issued until the shutdown is over and normal funding is restored, but the timing remains unclear.
The funding issues have raised concerns among advocacy groups, who warn that these delays and reductions could push already struggling families deeper into hardship, with many reliant on SNAP to meet their daily food needs.
Legal Rulings and Political Tension
The revised payment structure comes after federal judges in Rhode Island and Boston ruled that the government must continue partial funding of SNAP during the shutdown, using the emergency contingency funds. This was a significant intervention in response to earlier statements by the Trump administration, which had suggested halting all SNAP payments during the shutdown due to a lack of available funds.
In the face of these legal rulings, President Trump had hinted at defying the court orders, suggesting that he would halt SNAP payments entirely until the shutdown concluded. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified that partial benefits would still be issued, though the timeline remains uncertain.
The memo from Patrick Penn reflects this shift, with the USDA confirming that while the revised benefits are better than initially anticipated, the ongoing shutdown will continue to present challenges for recipients who depend on the program for basic needs.
