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Government shutdown may impact SNAP benefits
The Department of Agriculture sent a letter to all states earlier this month warning that money for SNAP may dry up if Congress doesn’t pass a budget or approve emergency funding for the program like they have during past government shutdowns. FOX 13’s Kellie Cowan reports.
WASHINGTON D.C. - The Department of Agriculture sent letters to all states earlier this month warning that funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could soon dry up if Congress fails to pass a budget or approve temporary emergency funding.
Why you should care:
If that happens, families who rely on SNAP could experience delays in monthly payments, leaving millions across the country struggling to afford food.
SNAP currently provides assistance to 42 million people nationwide, including almost 3 million Floridians.
A spokesperson with the Florida Department of Children and Families said it's important to note that October 2025 SNAP benefits will be issued as scheduled for eligible Floridians – with no anticipated impacts.
SNAP recipients may also receive notices about their eligible benefit amount for November, but benefits for that month won't be issued until federal funding is restored.
What you can do:
Anyone who has already submitted their application or renewal does not need to reapply. The Florida DCF spokesperson said it will only slow down the process.
Any existing SNAP benefits remain available, and recipients can check their EBT card balance anytime by visiting ebtEDGE.com.
What they're saying:
Clarissa Clark, a government affairs officer for the North Texas Food Bank, said the possible disruption adds more pressure on families already living paycheck to paycheck.
"It’s definitely stressful for working families. We’re seeing a big increase in working families coming. It’s not like just the unemployed or anything like that. They just can’t get by, so that’s really stressful not being able to feed their kids and take care of the family."
The backstory:
As Congress remains gridlocked over budget negotiations, a federal government shutdown could temporarily cut off the flow of money that supports programs like SNAP.
Food pantries across the country are already reporting higher demand, raising concerns about how they’ll handle additional strain if families lose access to benefits, even briefly.
What's changing with SNAP
Along with potential funding delays, new work and eligibility rules for SNAP will take effect in November.
RELATED: Millions could lose SNAP benefits as stricter rules take effect
Able-bodied adults under 65 will be required to work at least 80 hours per month to keep their benefits for the long term.
Fewer exemptions now exist for parents with children, and the work requirement has been expanded to include veterans, homeless individuals, and young adults transitioning out of foster care.
What's not changing
Other federal assistance programs — including The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — are not impacted by the current government funding standoff.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Associated Press and reporting by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth.