After a disruptive U. S. government shutdown, federal SNAP food assistance is again flowing to low-income households. But in the months ahead, many participants will have to abide by new work requirements. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits averaging around $190 per person to about 42 million people nationwide. During the first couple weeks of November, many of those recipients missed their regular allotments as President Donald Trump’s administration battled in court over whether to tap into reserves to fund the program while the government was shut down. Here’s what to know about SNAP: The benefits are available across the country after lapses For the first part of the month, the situation was chaotic after the federal government said SNAP would not be funded because of the government shutdown. Some states replenished the electronic benefit cards used in the program either fully or partially, using their own funds or federal dollars that were part of court orders. Others didn’t. Most states boosted food charities, but lines were long and some shelves were empty. As soon as the government reopened on Nov. 12, many states rushed to get out benefits. By Tuesday, all states either had loaded full November benefits onto people’s electronic spending cards or were working on it, according to an Associated Press review. Participants should receive December SNAP benefits according to their normal schedule. More SNAP recipients will face work requirements A massive tax and spending bill signed into law in July by Trump expanded requirements for many adult SNAP recipients to work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month. Those who don’t are limited to three months of benefits in a three-year period. The work requirements previously applied to adults ages 18 through 54 who are physically and mentally able and don’t have dependents. The new law also applies those requirements to those ages 55 through 64 and to parents without children younger than 14. It repeals work exemptions for homeless individuals, veterans and young adults aging out of foster care. And it limits the ability of states to waive work requirements in areas lacking jobs. The Trump administration waived the work requirements in November, but the three-month clock on work-free SNAP benefits will be in full force for much of the country in December. Under a Nov. 1 court order, the count will not yet begin in places with existing waivers in place due to relatively high local unemployment rates. Those waivers extending past this month cover all or parts of 10 states, the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands, and are set to expire between the end of 2025 and January 2027, depending on the place. The new requirements are expected to reduce the average monthly number of SNAP recipients by about 2. 4 million people over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Agriculture secretary casts doubt about SNAP In the aftermath of the shutdown, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department administers SNAP, has cast doubt on the program. Rollins has said it is rife with fraud, including deceased people receiving benefits and some people receiving multiple benefits. Rollins suggested that everyone who receives SNAP be required to reapply. But it’s not clear whether Rollins was suggesting an additional requirement or referring to the current one that mandates people to periodically recertify their income and other information. An Agriculture Department spokesperson didn’t clarify but instead said in a statement that the standard recertification processes for households is part of a plan to eliminate fraud, abuse and waste. Under federal law, most households must report their income and basic information every four to six months and be fully recertified for SNAP at least every 12 months. Full recertification can occur every 24 months for households where all adults are age 60 and above or have disabilities. But states can require more frequent eligibility verifications. Last year, 27 states required at least some households to be fully recertified every four to six months, depending on their household circumstances, according to a USDA report. ( ).
https://whdh.com/news/what-to-know-about-expanded-work-requirements-about-to-kick-in-for-snap/
Tag Archives: supplemental nutrition assistance program
The timeline for SNAP benefits remains uncertain, even after Congress agrees to end the shutdown
**Congress Moves to Reopen Government, But SNAP Benefit Timing Remains Uncertain**
*By Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press*
Congress has taken a major step toward reopening the government, but there’s still uncertainty about when one of the most far-reaching impacts of the closure will be resolved: when all 42 million Americans who receive SNAP food aid will have access to their full November benefits.
On Wednesday, the House adopted a plan to reopen and sent it to President Donald Trump to sign. One provision calls for restarting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), but it does not clarify exactly when benefits will be loaded onto the debit cards beneficiaries use to buy groceries.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which runs SNAP, said in an email Wednesday that funds could be available “upon the government reopening, within 24 hours for most states.” The department did not immediately answer questions about which states might face delays or whether the 24-hour timeline applies to states or directly to the cards used by recipients.
There has been a series of court battles over the fate of the nation’s largest government food program, which serves about 1 in 8 Americans. Here are some key points about the situation:
### When SNAP Funds Become Available Could Vary by State
Seesawing court rulings and changing guidance from the USDA have led to unequal distribution of benefits across states. Some beneficiaries have already received their full monthly allocations, while others have received nothing. A few states have issued only partial payments.
States report it’s faster to provide full benefits than to do the calculations and computer programming required for partial payments. At least 19 states plus the District of Columbia issued full benefits to at least some recipients last week, according to an Associated Press tally. Many did so within a day, during the narrow window between a Nov. 6 court ruling requiring full payments and a Nov. 7 U.S. Supreme Court decision halting them.
Jessica Garon, spokesperson for the American Public Human Services Association, anticipates most states will be able to issue full benefits within three days after receiving the go-ahead, while others may take up to a week. States that have sent no November benefits yet, such as South Carolina and West Virginia, will likely be the quickest to disburse funds. However, sixteen states have already loaded EBT cards with partial benefits, and some may face technical hurdles issuing the remaining amount, according to Carolyn Vega, a policy analyst at advocacy group Share Our Strength.
### Delays in Benefits Are a Problem for Recipients
For millions of Americans, even knowing benefits are on the way is not enough—when they arrive matters. About 42 million lower-income Americans receive SNAP benefits, averaging around $190 monthly per person. Many say the benefits do not—and are not intended to—cover the full cost of groceries in a normal month, even with careful budgeting. Delays make matters worse.
Doretha Washington, 41, of St. Louis, has a husband and six children, but not enough money to cover all their food needs. Even though her husband works servicing heating and cooling systems, the family relies on SNAP. They had received nothing in November, although Missouri announced Tuesday that partial benefits would be issued.
“Now it’s making things difficult because we can’t pay our bills in full and keep food in here,” Washington said this week. “I’m down to three days of food and trying to figure out what to do.” She has been rationing what they have. Others have turned to food charities, but report long lines and low supplies.
### Cutting Off Funds Left State Governments Scrambling
The USDA told states on Oct. 24 that it would not fund SNAP for November if the shutdown continued, leaving states scrambling. Most Democratic-led states sued to have the funding restored. Both Democratic and Republican-led states also launched emergency efforts, including using state funds to pay for benefits, boosting food banks, and deploying the National Guard to help with food distribution.
Other states used their allotted SNAP money only after a judge ordered the Trump administration to cover the full cost for the month. The legislation to reopen the government, passed by the Senate on Monday, calls for states to be reimbursed for funds spent running programs typically paid for by the federal government. However, it’s not immediately clear which situations will qualify in the case of SNAP.
In the meantime, the USDA told states Tuesday that it would reimburse them for paying out partial SNAP benefits, under a system where recipients get up to 65% of their regular allocations—and even states that paid the full amount can receive partial reimbursements. It also assured states it would not reduce amounts on cards for recipients in states that paid full benefits.
Democratic-led states that sued for benefits to be released said in a filing Wednesday that the late-breaking information “illustrates the chaos and confusion occasioned by USDA’s multiple, conflicting guidance documents.”
*Associated Press reporters Margery A. Beck and David A. Lieb contributed to this story.*
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/12/timeline-for-snap-benefits/
Michael Che Calls SNAP Freeze ‘Really F–ed Up’: I Keep Seeing ‘Racist Videos Celebrating (Mostly Black) Families Not Being Able to Buy Groceries’
“Saturday Night Live” star Michael Che is speaking out against the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which began on Saturday as a result of the now month-long government shutdown.
“This SNAP freeze is really fucked up,” Che wrote in an Instagram post Saturday. “And I keep seeing a lotta racist videos celebrating (mostly black) families not being able to buy groceries. There’s this weird idea that since some people have taken advantage of welfare benefits in the hood, NOBODY should receive help, at all? This country is built on greedy motherfuckers taking shortcuts and gaming the system to their benefit, but for some reason, when poor people find a way to turn a nickel into a dime, they’re judged more severely, especially Blacks.”
He continued, “I [know] the hustle is to hate each other here so we can fight in the comments and up our engagements, but let’s draw the line at feeding the poor. I grew up on free cheese and powdered milk and waiting for your friends to leave the store so they won’t see me pay with stamps. That shit ain’t as glamorous as it sounds. I promise.”
The government shut down on Oct. 1 after Republicans and Democrats failed to pass a funding bill for government services as the previous federal budget expired. In the Senate, Republicans are short 60 votes to pass the proposed bill, which gives Democrats a chance to fight back on key issues.
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/michael-che-snap-freeze-racist-government-shutdown-1236567724/
What Food Banks Need Amid SNAP Funding Crisis
Food banks across the country are experiencing rising demand and resource shortages due to a prolonged government shutdown and uncertainty surrounding the funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
John Sillars, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, told Good Morning America, “Even before the shutdown, demand was up for our services as a result of USDA policy changes. We are looking to community support more than ever. But we are going to serve those people as best we can.”
Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest in New York City, shared with ABC News, “At City Harvest, we know from experience that even a single missed paycheck or delayed benefit can force families to seek food assistance. We have been distributing food at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, and near LaGuardia and JFK airports to support federal workers impacted by the shutdown.”
**What Happens Next?**
Judge Talwani ordered the federal government to advise the court by Monday on whether they will use the emergency reserve funds to provide reduced SNAP benefits for November or fully fund the program “using both contingency funds and additional available funds.”
The situation remains critical as food banks and federal workers await clarity on the program’s funding and support. Community support continues to play a vital role in helping those in need during this uncertain time.
https://www.newsweek.com/what-food-banks-need-amid-snap-funding-crisis-10976399
Trump vows to ‘fund SNAP as soon as possible’ if court allows, blasts Democrats over shutdown delay
NEW: You can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration has asked federal courts to clarify whether it can legally release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments as the government shutdown continues.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said government lawyers had raised doubts about whether existing funds could be used for the November distribution, and that two courts have issued conflicting opinions on the matter.
“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump wrote.
“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
The president said he had instructed administration attorneys to ask the courts for clarification “as soon as possible.”
“If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” Trump added.
“The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons, and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.”
Trump urged food stamp recipients to contact Senate Democrats, writing, “If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW! Here is Cryin’ Chuck Schumer’s Office Number.”
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides aid to about 42 million Americans each month, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding for the program depends on congressional appropriations, which have lapsed during the current shutdown.
USDA Chief warns, “We’re right at the cliff” as 40 million Americans brace for a potential food stamp cutoff.
The president made his comments one day before the scheduled Nov. 1 payment date for many recipients. The USDA has not publicly confirmed whether benefits will be issued if the courts do not provide new guidance.
Trump has repeatedly accused Democrats of prolonging the shutdown to gain political leverage, while Democrats say the White House could reopen the government by signing a short-term spending bill already passed in the Senate.
In his post, Trump referenced his earlier actions to protect military and law enforcement paychecks during the standoff, calling it his duty to “ensure Americans don’t go hungry.”
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-vows-fund-snap-soon-possible-court-allows-blasts-democrats-shutdown-delay
Mayor Woodfin: Birmingham Has ‘Moral Obligation’ to Assist Those Who Lose SNAP Benefits
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
As part of an extensive plan to assist elders, children, and families, Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin on Thursday asked the City Council to commit $1 million to support households at risk of losing November SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown.
Woodfin spoke during a City Hall press conference, flanked by City Councilors including President Wardine Alexander; Drew Langloh, President of the United Way of Central Alabama; faith leaders; non-profit executives; and others.
“We are taking immediate action because we have a moral obligation to take care of the general welfare of our residents,” Woodfin said. “Our focus is on getting help directly to the people who need it most—whatever it takes to keep folks fed and families whole.”
Nearly 23,000 Birmingham households—one in four—rely on SNAP to keep food on the table, Woodfin noted. “On Nov. 1, those families could wake up with nothing because Washington shut the government down.”
Unless the federal government shutdown is ended, benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will cease. SNAP is the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, serving nearly 42 million people nationwide.
The mayor’s comprehensive three-part plan to help families that could lose benefits includes:
1. **Securing Funding:** Mayor Woodfin will ask the council on Tuesday to commit $1 million to provide supplemental nutrition assistance for the month of November, aiming to replace at least a portion of lost benefits for Birmingham households affected by the shutdown.
2. **Community Food Drive:** Launching a food drive from Monday, Nov. 3, through Thursday, Nov. 6, at Christian Service Mission, 3600 3rd Ave. South. Drop-off hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
3. **Connecting Residents to Services:** Coordinating with local partners to serve as an information hub, helping residents access additional wraparound services and assistance programs during this period.
Residents can monitor updates at [birminghamal.gov/bhamready](https://www.birminghamal.gov/bhamready).
“At its core, we all believe the role of the government is simple: to protect and care for its people,” said Council President Wardine Alexander. “When federal leadership cannot ensure these programs are fully funded, it falls on us at the local level to take up that responsibility.”
Tracy Hipps, Executive Director of Christian Service Mission, emphasized community involvement. “The greatest commandment that we can live out is to love our neighbor,” he said. “If you have a neighbor in need, help them. Don’t wait on the city, don’t wait on anybody else—you help them. That’s our responsibility. Live out the gospel every day.”
Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the response effort are encouraged to email **BHAMready@birminghamal.gov**. Messages should include the sender’s name, organization, phone number, and any commitments or questions. City staff will respond promptly.
For more information and updates regarding this initiative, visit [www.birminghamal.gov/bhamready](https://www.birminghamal.gov/bhamready). For up-to-the-minute non-emergency updates, text **BHAMREADY** to **38276**.
https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2025/10/woodfin-birmingham-has-moral-obligation-to-assist-those-who-lose-snap-benefits/
Fact Check: Did Democrats Vote Against Funding SNAP Benefits?
**Senate Democrats Vote 12 Times Against Funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program**
*By Andrew Stanton | Newsweek | October 28, 2025*
Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
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**Community Reactions**
A user named DallasBiff commented on the situation, highlighting the ongoing political debates surrounding SNAP funding.
Another commenter, SaveFerris, referenced a biblical passage, Luke 17:28:
*”As it was in the days of Lot; They did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold…”* — drawing parallels to current socio-political circumstances.
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https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4349444/posts