As the federal government’s shutdown moves into a fifth week, impacts are continuing to seep down to the state level.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services announced Friday that due to the ongoing funding lapse, benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the month of November are not set to be issued. This comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture warned earlier this month that, if the shutdown continues, it will have “insufficient funds” to pay the full cost of November’s benefits.
“This pause in benefits is a direct result of the federal shutdown and is not a state-level decision,” a news release from MDHS reads. “The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has directed states not to transmit EBT issuance files to EBT vendors until further notice. As a result, no new SNAP benefits will be issued for November unless federal guidance changes, however, previous benefits will remain accessible.”
Roughly 385,000 Mississippians rely on food assistance through SNAP, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Of those who receive SNAP befits, 67% are families with children.
If Republicans and Democrats in Congress can find a way to pass a funding measure soon, SNAP benefits could be resumed in November for Mississippians. But MDHS officials said, with the uncertainty at hand, residents should plan accordingly.
“MDHS advises our clients who have unused SNAP benefits from October or previous months to make eligible purchases with those benefits,” the release continued. “Because the length of the shutdown is uncertain, MDHS recommends that clients purchase shelf-stable items such as canned goods.”
The state agency is encouraging families looking to meet their food needs during the pause in SNAP benefits to visit the following local food pantries: Mid-South Food Bank in north Mississippi, Mississippi Food Network in central Mississippi, and Catholic Charities in south Mississippi.
MDHS added that existing clients should still fulfill all requirement to remain SNAP eligibility. It’s also created a web page with the latest information on SNAP updates and a comprehensive list of local food resources amid the shutdown.