Judges Rule USDA Must Fund November SNAP Benefits
This afternoon, two federal judges issued rulings requiring USDA to use its contingency funds to sustain SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Details are forthcoming, including the exact timing of benefit issuance. Hunger Solutions New York will continue to monitor and provide updates as more information becomes available.
SNAP benefits for November will be delayed. EBT cards will still work, and any benefits on the card can continue to be used.
Families can still submit SNAP applications and must comply with all SNAP requirements, including recertifications, periodic reports, and other change reporting. Visit the NYS OTDA website for additional updates.
WIC, School Meals, Summer Nutrition Programs & CACFP
WIC remains open and operational. WIC-approved stores are expected to continue to accept WIC benefits, and WIC offices are expected to remain open for business as usual. Updates will be available on the NYS Department of Health WIC website. See NYS Department of Health’s FAQ for more details.
School meals, Summer EBT, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program are operating as normal at this time.
Local Food Resources
The following resources can help families find local emergency food providers:
- Find Your Regional Food Bank: Locate the regional food bank and Emergency Food Relief Organizations in your area.
- The Food Pantries Food Connect Map: Find local food pantries, community meals, mobile food resources, and more.
- To find food resources by phone:
- Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish);
- Call 211 for New York State residents, or 311 if you live in New York City; or
- Text 914-342-7744 and type in the word “food.”
