Why November SNAP benefits may not be available for several weeks or months
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An EBT sign hangs in a Brooklyn grocery window ahead of a Nov. 1 halt to SNAP benefits during the ongoing federal shutdown. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The Trump administration's plan to partially fund SNAP benefits won't happen quickly.
Why it matters: The Department of Agriculture expects states to need weeks, if not months, to distribute benefits to the millions of Americans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a court filing.
Driving the news: In that same filing, the government said the USDA will comply with a court order to partially pay SNAP benefits by using $4.65 billion in contingency funding to cover roughly half of benefits for all eligible households.
- The decision came after a judge's ruling Friday called on the Trump administration to develop a plan for how to make SNAP payments amid the government shutdown.
Yes, but: The USDA indicated in its filing that bureaucracy and old systems may delay payments nationwide.
Here's what to know about when payments arrive.
When November SNAP benefits become available
How it works: The USDA said in court documents that states will face "procedural difficulties" that could stop payments from "reaching households in a timely manner and in the correctly reduced amounts."
- The USDA said it will tell states the effective date for reductions, and how much those reductions will be, the documents say.
- States will use the USDA's guidelines to decide how much should be sent to households in each state.
- State agencies then "must recode their eligibility systems to adjust for the reduced maximum allotments," the documents say.
Reality check: The USDA says that state systems differ, and some are "decades old" — so it is unclear how long they will need to complete the necessary changes to avoid payment disruptions, errors or delays.
- "For at least some States, USDA's understanding is that the system changes States must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months," per the filing.
Of note: The USDA suggested that transferring funds from the Child Nutrition Program to SNAP benefits would also pose "an unacceptable risk," as it would make it harder for low-income children to obtain meals at school.
How SNAP payments normally work
Roughly 42 million Americans are enrolled in SNAP, a federally funded program administered by states.
- Americans have to meet income limits and specific requirements based on their state of residence.
- Funds are loaded onto EBT cards, which are used like debit cards for purchasing food and goods.
How much are SNAP benefits per month?
By the numbers: Typically, nationwide funding for SNAP is around $99.8 billion, or about $187.20 per participant per month, according to the USDA.
Why SNAP benefits are stopping
How it works: SNAP benefits were initially frozen due to the government shutdown. Multiple states then sued the Trump administration to force it to resume food stamp payments.
- Two lawsuits in Rhode Island and Massachusetts argued the government was withholding $6 billion in emergency funds to keep SNAP benefits alive.
- However, the USDA argued those funds weren't available because it may need them for emergencies and natural disasters.
SNAP payments normal November schedule
Zoom out: The USDA has a schedule of when SNAP benefits are issued, but distribution varies by state.
- Some states, like California, base their payment dates on one's case number. Other states, like Rhode Island, give out payments on the first of the month.
- The variance in payment dates echoes the USDA's court document claim that state systems are vastly different, which might impact SNAP payment dates for November 2025.
Go deeper: What happens to SNAP benefits already loaded to EBT cards in November
