States scramble to send full SNAP food benefits to millions of people after government shutdown ends

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the program, issued new guidance Thursday, instructing: "State agencies must take immediate steps to ensure households receive their full November allotments promptly."

The federal food program serves about 42 million people, about 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. They receive an average of around $190 monthly per person, though that doesn't necessarily cover the full cost of groceries for a regular month.

Because of the uncertainty over benefits, the USDA told states to exclude November from a federal requirement that most adult SNAP recipients work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month. Under normal circumstances, recipients can only go three months in a span of three years without meeting the work requirements.

States shifting from zero to full speed for benefits

In some states where SNAP recipients had received nothing during November, officials said they are working to load money on to people's electronic benefit cards by Friday, if not sooner.

The Arkansas Department of Human Services said Thursday that full November SNAP benefits are expected to be available at midnight for people to buy groceries.

"This has been difficult for our beneficiaries, and we are incredibly appreciative to our partners across the state who helped bridge the gap through food pantries, donation drives, and other assistance efforts," department Secretary Janet Mann said in a statement.

Officials in South Carolina and West Virginia, which also had not issued November benefits, said the full monthly amount should be available by Friday. And Alabama said full SNAP benefits should be issued Thursday.

North Carolina, which issued partial benefits last week, said full monthly SNAP benefits should be loaded on people's electronic cards by Friday. Colorado said it was switching from delivering partial to full SNAP benefits Thursday.

The Illinois Department of Human Services, which previously issued partial November benefits, said Thursday that it is "working to restore full SNAP benefits." But it won't happen instantly.

"We anticipate that the remaining benefit payments will be made over several days, starting tomorrow," the department said in a statement, and that "all SNAP recipients will receive their full November benefits by November 20th."

Paused SNAP payments stirred stress for some families

The delayed SNAP payments posed another complication for Lee Harris' family since his spouse was laid off a few months ago.

Harris, 34, said the North Little Rock, Arkansas, family got help from his temple and received food left by someone who was moving. With that assistance — and the knowledge that other families have greater needs — they skipped stopping by the food pantry they had sometimes used.

They and their three daughters have been able to keep meals fairly close to normal despite missing a SNAP payment this week. But they still have experienced stress and uncertainty.

"Not knowing a definite end," Harris said, "I don't know how much I need to stretch what I have in our pantry."

Federal legislation funds SNAP for a year

The USDA told states Oct. 24 that it would not fund SNAP benefits for November amid the government shutdown. Many Democratic-led states sued to have the funding restored.

After judges ruled the Trump administration must tap into reserves to fund SNAP, the administration said it would fund up to 65% of its regular allocations. When a judge subsequently ordered full benefits, some states scrambled to quickly load SNAP benefits onto participants' cards during a one-day window before the Supreme Court put that order on hold Friday.

Meanwhile, other states went forward with partial benefits, and still others issued nothing while waiting for further USDA guidance about the situation.

Amid the uncertainty over federal SNAP funding, some states tapped into their own funds to provide direct aid to SNAP recipients or additional money for nonprofit food banks.

The legislation to reopen the U.S. government provides full SNAP benefits not only for November but also for the remainder of the federal fiscal year, which runs through next September. Citing that legislation, the Justice Department on Thursday dropped its request for the Supreme Court to continue blocking a judicial order to pay full SNAP benefits.