HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania residents receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not receive November payments on time due to a federal government shutdown caused by Congress failing to pass a federal budget.
Starting Oct. 16, SNAP payments will be paused until federal funding is restored and released to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) said it will notify recipients once payments can resume and provide guidance on when to expect their benefits.
DHS urged residents to be patient and respectful while staff work to assist them through the disruption.
“If you need immediate food assistance, call 211 or visit www.feedingpa.org or pa-navigate.org,” the agency said.
The department also reminded SNAP recipients that they remain responsible for completing renewals and reporting any changes to income, contact information or household composition during the shutdown. In addition, recipients must comply with federal requirements taking effect Nov. 1, reporting work, schooling or volunteer participation to DHS.
The Commonwealth cannot backfill these costs so SNAP benefits are on hold until a federal budget is passed.
“Congress has the ability to prevent the harm this will cause to Pennsylvania families and small businesses,” DHS said in an additional statement. “We urge Republicans in Congress to reopen the government and protect vulnerable Pennsylvanians at risk because of this inaction.”
Congressman Ryan Mackenzie placed the blame with the representatives who did not vote for the proposed new budget.
“That nonpartisan bill has proceeded to the Senate, and while it continues to receive support from the bipartisan majority, some Senate Democrats are preventing it from receiving the 60 votes that are needed,” Mackenzie said in a statement. “I call on Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats to protect SNAP and other vital services by supporting the House’s clean, bipartisan government funding bill.”
The agency encouraged residents to stay informed and follow updates as the federal budget impasse continues.
Local SNAP recipients say the federal shutdown is already creating anxiety for families who rely on the program. Jen O., a Lehigh Valley resident originally from Ohio, said she uses SNAP to help care for her toddler.
“It affects everybody,” she said. “I have a job, but it doesn’t pay a lot… it’s necessary. For him, mostly.”
Jen said the news of delayed benefits is upsetting because she already struggles to pay bills. Another resident Oneida Ramos said she is hearing reports about SNAP benefits being stolen due to the “challenging” time.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sent a letter on Oct. 10 to all state directors of SNAP ordering them to hold on sending all November payments to retailers that participate in the program.
The letter was signed by Sasha Gersten-Paal, SNAP program development director, and said there will be “insufficient funds” to pay SNAP benefits for about 42 million recipients nationwide.
SNAP benefits were threatened during a 2018 government shutdown, but have never been frozen.
Organizations like the Central Moravian Food Pantry, Choice Food Pantry, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank and the Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley are available resources for community members.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will not be affected at this time after receiving a temporary increase in funding from the White House last week.
