What happens to SNAP benefits already loaded to EBT cards in November
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A sign showing EBT card acceptance at a grocery store in Oakland, Calif., amid a Trump administration plan to cut SNAP benefits for nearly 700,000 people. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
EBT cards aren't expected to stop working when SNAP benefits freeze in November.
Why it matters: About 42 million Americans — or around 20 million households — are expected to lose access to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits next month.
- EBT cards — used by recipients to spend SNAP funds — can still be used if they have leftover funds from previous months, experts said.
- However, experts said that many people spend their benefits during the month they're issued — so this is unlikely to help many.
Catch up quick: The government shutdown is expected to stretch into November. It has already disrupted air travel and food assistance.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states it won't provide November's SNAP payments and that the agency won't tap into emergency funds for food stamps.
- SNAP benefits will not be distributed Nov. 1, leaving many struggling to buy food and goods
Yes, but: People will still have access to their EBT cards.
Here's what to know.
EBT cards and SNAP benefits
Zoom in: Any SNAP funds unspent from October or previous months will roll over into November.
- Benefits do not expire for an entire calendar year, per the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
- DHS officials recommend SNAP recipients keep their cards locked and secure to avoid losing funds.
What they're saying: "Your existing card will continue to work, but your regular payment will not appear," said Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) in a press release. "Keep your EBT Card active."
- Mackenzie Libbey with Community Legal Services told CBS News: "That's money that's already been appropriated. It's been put on their card."
- "So we definitely do not want people rushing out to try to use up their benefits at the end of October thinking they're not going to be able to buy anything in November."
Yes, but: SNAP recipients often spend all of their benefits at once, or in the month they're issued, Axios' Emily Peck writes.
- "About 80 percent of benefits are spent in the first two weeks and 97 percent by the end of the month," said Lauren Bauer of the Brookings Institution.
- This spending becomes a key revenue driver for grocery stores, meaning a drop in SNAP benefits usage can lead to a broader decline in general spending, too, Peck writes.
States and SNAP benefits
The intrigue: Some states say they're unsure if EBT cards will still work in November and that families should plan ahead.
- New Hampshire, for example, recommends beneficiaries use all of their funds before Oct. 31.
- Oklahoma similarly urged families to budget ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline.
States are handling the lack of SNAP benefit funding differently.
- Virginia declared a state of emergency so it can use funds to pay for benefits.
- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis asked his state for up to $10 million to support food banks.
What happens to EBT, SNAP when shutdown ends
What's next: Many expect that when the shutdown ends, any missed benefits will be sent retroactively to EBT cards.
- Brown of Ohio recommends those in need still apply or renew their benefit application as needed so they don't lose help when the shutdown ends.
What to watch for: Food banks are already seeing a surge of people as millions of families prepare for benefits to freeze.
Emily Peck contributed to this report.
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