The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a government welfare program, could expire Saturday, putting all eyes on the food stamp subsidies used by millions across the country.
Two judges ordered the Trump administration on Friday to release emergency funding to keep federal aid flowing. However, it is unclear whether roughly 40 million beneficiaries will still receive SNAP benefits this weekend, after they were projected to come grinding to a halt due to the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1.
At the time, Senate Democrats refused to back the House-passed continuing resolution, which was designed to keep the government open and programs like SNAP funded.
What happens to unused benefits?
For welfare recipients with SNAP funds left over from October, the funds will automatically roll over, and they will still be able to use their EBT, or electronic benefits transfer, cards in November.
“That’s money that’s already been appropriated. It’s been put on their card,” Mackenzie Libbey with Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization Community Legal Services told CBS News. “So we definitely do not want people rushing out to try to use up their benefits at the end of October thinking they’re not going to be able to buy anything in November.”
Unused benefits can expire if they’re in a household’s account for longer than nine months or if an account has been inactive for nine months, according to the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. However, states are required to give a 30-day notice before expunging SNAP funds.
When the shutdown ends, any missed benefits are expected to be loaded retroactively to EBT cards for beneficiaries to use, according to Axios.
How many people are on SNAP?
Around 42 million people, or 1 in 8, in the United States are on the federal welfare program. Each household’s allotment depends on income and family size, with the average person receiving $187 per month.
As of Oct. 1, the maximum allotment for an individual living in the 48 contiguous states was $298 per month. A family of four can receive up to $994.
Where can I find food?
While SNAP is a federal program, states hold administrative authority over how and when payments are issued.
Federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration must tap into a SNAP contingency fund worth about $5 billion to make sure benefits continue going out during the shutdown.
However, if or when food stamps would actually reach people this weekend remains unclear, as the Trump administration had previously suggested it could take weeks to disburse benefits. The Justice Department could still try to appeal in the case.
Should benefits fail to go out on Saturday, states have taken various approaches to SNAP’s expiration after the USDA, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, previously announced it would not tap into the emergency funds.
New York, Delaware, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Maryland are among the states that have declared an emergency and allocated millions to stave off loss of benefits.
Other states, such as California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, are funneling millions toward food banks and nonprofit groups for November or are telling residents to seek help from charities.
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In the event the Trump administration fails to comply swiftly with the judges’ order on SNAP, beneficiaries can access Feeding America’s directory of local food banks, food pantries, and meal programs on its website.
Welfare recipients also have the option of checking their state’s SNAP page for more information on how to find additional funding or nearby resources.
