USDA Reports 65% of SNAP Benefits Will be Sent for November

WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans who use food assistance will see a slight increase in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November after the U.S. Department of Agriculture revised its guidance during the ongoing federal government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history.

The USDA announced Wednesday that SNAP recipients will now receive about 65% of their normal benefits, up from the 50% originally planned. The adjustment comes after the agency determined it could draw additional funding from its $4.65 billion contingency fund.

“The Food and Nutrition Service is revising its November 4 memorandum,” the USDA said in a statement. “The maximum allotments are being reduced by 35 percent instead of 50 percent.”

The Trump administration told a federal court that the contingency fund would cover the partial payments. A typical month of SNAP costs more than $8 billion, and officials said they chose not to divert about $4 billion from other child nutrition programs to make up the gap, citing potential “significant shortfalls.”

The partial rollout could face delays, leaving many people uncertain about when their benefits will arrive. States halted processing after an Oct. 10 USDA letter instructed them not to issue payments during the shutdown, forcing agencies to restart the process under new guidance.

“Processing time will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months,” USDA official Patrick Penn said.

Federal judges previously ruled that the USDA’s decision to stop SNAP payments during the shutdown was likely unlawful and ordered the agency to use the contingency fund to continue payments at least partially. USDA officials warned that once the fund is depleted, “no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely.”

The USDA said it would continue working with states and provide updates as the situation evolves.