Kentuckians will soon receive their full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the month of November, Gov. Andy Beshear announced in a Nov. 14 post on X.
Beshear’s announcement comes after the federal government paused the distribution of SNAP benefits Nov. 1, one month into the government shutdown, leaving roughly 600,000 Kentuckians and millions more across the country wondering when they would receive food assistance. Food banks and other aid programs saw a massive surge in interest following the announcement, with some area pantries running out of supplies to address needs.
Beshear hopes with city officials working throughout the night, Kentuckians can start to see full benefits hit their cards Nov. 15.
“Despite the Trump Administration’s refusal to release these benefits, Team Kentucky is doing everything possible to ensure folks don’t have to wait any longer,” Beshear said in a second post. “We’re in this together.”
Return of food benefits comes as historic government shutdown ends
The return of assistance benefits comes on the heels of the end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in the nation’s history Nov. 12.
Congress was able to narrowly pass a temporary appropriations bill after eight Senate Democrats agreed to end the weeks-long stalemate and vote for the measure, which will provide funding for the government through January 2026. In addition to food benefits and providing pay for federal employees, including the military and air traffic controllers, the bill also reinstates all federal works who were fired as a result of the shutdown and prevents additional firings through Jan. 30.
According to USA TODAY, officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said SNAP payments to most states should be reinstated within 24 hours of the government’s reopening.
