SNAP benefits: Who will be affected if the US government shutdown continues? Everything you need to know

If the ongoing shutdown of the federal government in the United States extends through November, about 42 million low-income Americans could face severe disruption in their food stamp benefits, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned. The department has informed state agencies that it will have “insufficient funds” next month to issue full benefits under the Supplemented Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The New York Times reported. The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which operates SNAP, has asked states to suspend sending electronic benefit files to providers: the process that enables recipients to receive monthly food credits. “We’re going to run out of money in two weeks. Millions of hungry families will be affected if the shutdown continues,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke L Rollins told the New York Times. Who will be most affected? As per The Associated Press, SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program, provides monthly benefits that help families buy groceries at authorized retailers. The program supports nearly one in eight Americans with participants receiving an average of $188 per month. While the USDA continues to examine contingency plans, the department’s letter confirmed that its reserve funds, about $6 billion, will cover only partial benefits for November. The crisis could leave millions of vulnerable families without food aid for the first time in decades. Carolyn Vega, associate director of policy analysis at Share Our Strength, a nonprofit focused on fighting poverty, said it’s “uncharted territory.” Carolyn added, “A delay, or even uncertainty, could be devastating for families already living on a tight budget.” State agencies raise alarm States such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and New York have already informed recipients that benefits may be delayed or reduced for November. Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families even warned that October payments for new participants could be affected. In New Mexico, where more than 20% of the state’s population relies on SNAP, local lawmakers described the situation as “unprecedented” and warned that losing benefits would cause “direct harm” to families and the economy, according to The Associated Press. Several states are also looking at emergency options to fill funding shortfalls, but officials have indicated it would be nearly impossible to cover SNAP’s $8 billion monthly cost without funding from the federal government. Can the USDA Find a Legal Loophole? According to legal experts, the USDA could potentially continue to provide benefits under a different interpretation of the Food and Nutrition Act, which does not require Congress to approve a new supply of federal funding, which treats SNAP like an entitlement program like Medicare, which does not require dollars to be approved annually by Congress to offset the costs. “The simplest approach would be to treat SNAP benefits as an entitlement, decoupled from appropriations,” David A. Super, a law professor at Georgetown University, told NYT. “It could keep payments flowing, but will the administration go that route? who knows.” Frequently Asked Questions What is SNAP? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families purchase food using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Why is SNAP funding at risk? The ongoing government shutdown has halted federal appropriations, leaving the USDA without sufficient funds to issue November benefits. How many people could be affected? About 42 million Americans, including families, children and the elderly, rely on SNAP benefits each month.