During a federal court session on Wednesday, an official from the Agriculture Department revealed that the allotments for SNAP beneficiaries in November will be set at 65% of their normal amounts, a revision from the previously estimated 50% announced by the Trump administration. This change comes amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now stretched into its 36th day, marking a historic duration.
The prior estimation, communicated to a federal judge earlier this week, indicated that over $4 billion in contingency funds would be allocated to provide half of the usual monthly benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps. With this new percentage, a family of four in the lower 48 states can expect approximately $646 for the month.
Details surrounding the adjustments remain vague, with the Department of Justice labeling it an “error” that they acted promptly to rectify once it was identified. This amendment to the benefit calculation was formally recognized in a court filing from Patrick Penn, the Agriculture Department’s deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services.
The specific timeline for distributing these benefits to over 40 million recipients is still not clearly established. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged in a social media update on Monday that executing partial payments will take “several weeks.” However, she assured that once the government reopens, full benefits will be delivered to families without delay.
In light of the extended shutdown, several states have introduced measures to mitigate the impact of funding gaps on their residents, illustrating a united effort to support those affected during this challenging period.