As the government shutdown heads into its third week, information is beginning to emerge as far as which programs could feel the financial impacts come November. And many people are wondering, will SNAP benefits be issued in November? It’s a good question. Here’s what you need to know about the potential changes coming to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which helps provide food to individuals across the country, what that could mean for millions of Americans and how those not impacted by it can help.
What to know about SNAP in November
SNAP—also known as food stamps—is a government-funded program that helps low-income Americans purchase groceries. President Donald Trump and his administration changed the program in September of this year, resulting in 2.4 million people having to reevaluate their benefits. At the beginning of the shutdown, it seemed there would be no changes made to the program, but that all might change come November 1 due to the fact that SNAP is expected to run out of money, resulting in the pause of benefits for millions of beneficiaries.
“We’re going to run out of money in two weeks,” United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins—who was appointed by President Trump in November of 2024—told reporters on October 16. “So you’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown.”
It’s important to note that SNAP as a whole has not run out of money. But if the shutdown continues, the program will have spent all of the money allotted to it by the government prior to the shutdown come November 1, meaning that SNAP users might not receive their benefits for that month.
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“If SNAP payments don’t go out in November, it won’t just affect the families using those benefits. Small grocery stores in lower-income areas would also feel the strain almost immediately,” Devin Carroll, a certified financial planner, told Woman’s World.“Most people who rely on SNAP don’t have extra savings to fall back on, so even a short delay can immediately push them into a financial crisis.”
As of publication, experts say this pause in SNAP benefits could end if the government reopens before November 1. However, when the government does reopen it’s unclear if there will be any changes made to SNAP, since it is one of the programs expected to be talked about in the bill Congress is expected to vote on in the upcoming days.
“If SNAP benefits pause during a government shutdown, many of the families that rely on these benefits could start feeling the impact right away,” says Isabel Barrow, a financial planner from Edelman Financial Engines. “When that kind of support stops, even briefly, it can throw an entire household budget off, especially when they’re already doing their best to stretch their dollars.”
Helping those on SNAP to get groceries
Many people who rely on SNAP will turn to food banks to help them feed their families. If you’re in a position to help them by donating to a local food bank, consider giving peanut butter, canned soup and stew, canned fruit and vegetables, canned fish and canned beans, as well as pasta and rice. According to Feeding America, these are the most common items food banks need. (Many will also accept personal care items like diapers, laundry detergent and period products). What not to give? Foods that need to be refrigerated, leftover foods and baked goods.
For more information on what to give and what not to give, and to find a food bank near you, visit FeedingAmerica.org
