What does the government shutdown mean for your SNAP benefits?
Key Takeaways
- The partial government shutdown will not affect SNAP or WIC benefits, but TANF may be affected if the shutdown continues.
- Congress passed a bill to reopen the government through January 2026. This means November SNAP payments will be delivered within a few days of the bill’s passing on 11/12, depending on how long your state takes to process the funds.
- December and January SNAP payments are secure, but Congress faces another spending cliff at the end of January.
- Stay informed through your state SNAP website, local office, or trusted partners like mRelief. We will update this post as the situation develops.
- For a list of additional national and local resources, please see our Resources for SNAP November Benefits Delay post which is updated regularly.
Update: 2/2/26
After the previous government shutdown disrupted benefits for people in need nationwide, it’s understandable that there are questions surrounding this new partial shutdown that started over the weekend. February SNAP and WIC benefits will be paid on time, despite the partial government shutdown. New applicants to either program should also be able to apply normally without issue. The budget passed in November included funding for the USDA, the department that manages SNAP and WIC, through September of this year.
However, other benefits such as TANF are managed by departments that have not been funded through the same period, and may experience disruptions in payments or face delays in processing new applications if the shutdown continues. There are no immediate issues expected for TANF payments or applications at this time.
Update: 11/13
Last night, Congress passed a bill to reopen the government after the 43 day long government shutdown. This bill funds the government through January of next year. This means states will finally be receiving funds from the federal government to issue full November SNAP payments, and that most states are expected to issue benefits in the next few days. From there, states will need between 24 hours and a few days to process benefits and issue them.
States that did not disperse any November SNAP until this point are expected to be the quickest, as states that issued partial payments will have to make corrections and calculate the remaining benefit amount after partial payments. At this time it seems that December and January SNAP benefits will go out as normal, and that Congress will attempt to create a funding plan for the rest of the federal fiscal year ahead of the January 30th deadline.
Update: 11/10
This weekend, the Trump administration again appealed the decision by a lower court judge to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. That appeal was denied, and in response, the administration said it would appeal to the Supreme Court to stop the order to fully fund SNAP, unless the government reopens. Despite having sufficient funds available, the Trump administration has refused to release the money, and even threatened to penalize states that tried to pay full benefits over the weekend. After widespread backlash, a Massachusetts judge temporarily blocked the federal government from enforcing those threats, with a hearing scheduled later today. More information regarding full SNAP payments should be available when the Supreme Court weighs in on the appeal, as the shutdown, and the Trump administration’s refusal to fully fund SNAP, continues.
Update: 11/7
The USDA has issued a memo to states sharing that they intend to fully fund November SNAP, and that it is possible states will receive those funds by the end of the day today. The USDA will be tapping into an additional pool of money that is meant to fund child nutrition programs, which contained roughly $23.9 billion in October of this year.
It is still unclear how long it will take states to make full November payments, with some states already having paid partial benefits, but it seems that this historic disruption of SNAP payments will finally be coming to a close.
At the same time, the Department of Justice has appealed both federal court decisions that have ordered full SNAP payments be dispersed.
Update: 11/6
Today, Judge John J. McConnell (one of the two federal judges that ruled against the Trump administration last week) has ordered the administration to provide full November SNAP benefits by tomorrow. Even if the states receive full SNAP funding tomorrow, it is still unclear when benefits would be paid out this month as states scramble to respond to the gap created by missing SNAP benefits.
At this time, it seems that the Department of Justice intends to appeal the decision, potentially leaving millions of families hungry as we enter the holiday season. We will update this blog as we learn more, and additional information can be found on your state SNAP website
Update: 11/4
On Monday, the Trump administration agreed to tap into USDA contingency funding to pay out half benefit amounts for November SNAP recipients. This follows the two court rulings from Friday that ordered the administration to provide at least partial benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.
It is unclear when benefits will be dispersed. By choosing to only pay for half the normal benefit amounts, the administration is forcing states to adjust their eligibility systems to calculate these new benefit amounts, which will likely cause delays even after the USDA pays the states for November SNAP. Additionally, it is unclear if families applying for SNAP during the month of November will be eligible for these half payments, even if they’re approved.
Many states are struggling to fill the gap that SNAP leaves for hungry families nationwide. This map from Newsweek shows which states are taking action by increasing funding to food banks and giving direct financial aid to families.
Update: 10/31
Two federal judges have ruled in favor of the 20+ states, numerous nonprofits, and local officials suing the Trump administration for withholding SNAP funding for November during the government shutdown. Both judges are urging the USDA to tap into contingency funding to provide November benefits to SNAP recipients.
It is unclear at this time how the Trump administration will respond to these orders – neither the Justice Department and the White House have made statements at this time.
Judge John J. McConnell of the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered the Agriculture Department to act as soon as possible in order to avoid delays in November benefits.
Judge Indira Talwani of the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts has given the Trump administration until Monday (11/3) to deliver a funding plan for SNAP during the ongoing government shutdown.
We will continue to update this blog as we learn more.
Update: 10/30
USDA informed states that they have chosen not to use the available contingency funds to cover November benefits during the shutdown. This has necessitated the suspension of benefits across the nation.
Two updates are that any remaining balance on EBT cards will be usable during the month of November and, when the shutdown ends, recipients can expect their benefits to be backfilled.
Several bills have been proposed to allow for SNAP funding during the shutdown.
Over 20 states have sued the Trump administration for reversing their contingency plan and exacerbating needless suffering for American families. Contingency funds have been used to pay for SNAP during the previous Trump administration's government shutdown in 2018, so it's possible that with added state pressure, the administration will relent and release these funds to pay for November benefits. Learn more about contingency funds and the senselessness of the administration’s decision not to use them.
For a list of additional national and local resources, please see our Resources for SNAP November Benefits Delay post which is updated regularly.
Update: 10/23
To help keep track of the state-by-state updates, we've put together a spreadsheet and are updating it as we learn about new developments.
Update: 10/17
As the shutdown enters its third week, USDA warns states that it will not fund SNAP for November. It seems that in most states, application and renewal processing will continue as normal, but it is unclear whether benefits will be back paid should there be a lapse.
Once we have more clarity on how each state is planning to respond (e.g. budget allocation to cover benefits), we will publish an update with a table listing out state responses.
Introduction
Government shutdowns can feel overwhelming, especially when food and family stability are on the line. At mRelief, we believe every family deserves dignity and peace of mind and we'll continue to keep you informed and supported.
On October 1, 2025, the government experienced a shutdown due to Congress's inability to reach an agreement on a bill to fund government services beyond September. Here's what you should know.
Your current SNAP benefits will continue.
If you already receive SNAP, your benefits for October 2025 will still be loaded onto your EBT card. The government prioritizes keeping food assistance flowing, even during a shutdown.
New applications may face delays.
If you're applying for SNAP for the first time, states may continue processing applications, but federal support staff are limited. This could slow down approvals in some places. “SNAP applications and the ability for employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to send out new benefits could be affected by a shutdown,” says U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen.
Customer service could be limited.
National hotlines and federal offices that help with SNAP may not be fully staffed. For help, it's best to contact your local SNAP office, call your caseworker, or check up on your case status through your state's SNAP portal.
Programs connected to SNAP may be affected.
WIC seems more at risk than SNAP in terms of immediacy. The National WIC Association "anticipates that WIC has enough funding on hand to remain open for the short term." Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), an anti-hunger advocacy nonprofit, urges WIC recipients to "continue to use their benefits and attend scheduled appointments while eligible people should continue to apply.” To stay up-to-date on WIC, refer to your state's WIC agency website or app.
What happens if the shutdown continues?
It is unclear. "If a shutdown extends beyond mid-October, USDA could technically tap its contingency reserve funding to cover SNAP costs," says FRAC. "Under the prior administration, this reserve stood at $6 billion, but it is unclear how much remains available or whether the current administration would choose to use it."
What’s at stake?
If the shutdown continues, millions of families could face uncertainty about future benefits, while states struggle with fewer federal resources. This instability risks widening food insecurity at a moment when families most need consistency.
There may be more food and resources available near you.
- FindHelp: Find food banks, financial, housing assistance and more.
- FoodFinder: Find food pantries near you.
- SNAP Outreach Programs: Find help applying for SNAP near you.
- USDA National Hunger Hotline: Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (7am – 10pm ET) or text FOOD to 914-342-7744 to find food resources near you.
- FullCart.org: Sign up for free food delivered to your door (waitlisted).
- 211: Call 211 or visit 211.org for a free community resource hotline.
Stay informed.
If the shutdown continues, states will issue updates about how benefits may be adjusted in future months. Check your state SNAP website or call your local office for the most reliable information.
Take action.
- Join the Food Research and Action Center in urging representatives to prioritize funding for vital programs like SNAP and WIC. You can quickly find your elected officials here: Find Your Representative.
- Share the blog post with your friends, family and community members so they know what’s at stake.
How can mRelief help?
If you or someone you know needs support, mRelief is here. Our free SNAP screener makes it easy to check eligibility and apply for SNAP benefits, so families can focus on putting food on the table, even in uncertain times. And if you aren’t eligible, we’ll connect you with local resources that can help. Text 'FOOD' or 'COMIDA' to 74544 to get started. Or complete the screener online at screen.mrelief.com.
