TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — As the government shutdown continued into its 24th day Friday, Florida SNAP recipients are closer to not having their benefits for the month of November.
Without federal funding, the USDA will not have the resources to assist those eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is administered at the state level.
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While October SNAP benefits continued as normal, November benefits are now in peril.
“If the federal government shutdown continues into November, SNAP benefits for November will not be issued until the federal funding is restored,” the department said.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, recipients may get notices about their eligible benefits amount, but no benefits will be administered onto their EBT cards until the shutdown is lifted.
EBT card holders can still check their balance on ebtEDGE.com.
The department said SNAP benefit applications are still open and will be processed even if benefits are not distributed yet.
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“If an individual has already submitted their application or renewal, there is no need to reapply – doing so will slow down the processing of their benefits,” a spokesperson for the Department of Children and Families told 8 On Your Side.
While SNAP benefits will not be available, Florida’s Medicaid and Temporary Cash Assistance are not affected by the shutdown.
“The Department is monitoring the federal government shutdown closely and is committed to resuming benefits as quickly as possible once funding is restored,” the spokesperson said.
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