Here are the maximum and minimum SNAP payments for November (for now)
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The closed Daily Table grocery in Boston's Nubian Square still displayed SNAP signs this week. Photo: Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Maximum SNAP payments in November will be reduced according to guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Why it matters: Roughly 42 million Americans depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food and goods, but the government shutdown has frozen their full benefits for now.
Driving the news: The USDA's payment rundown comes as a federal judge ruled that the government must pay November SNAP benefits in full despite the shutdown.
- On Thursday, a judge ordered the administration to pay benefits out by today after the government said outdated systems and red tape would cause delays of up to several weeks or months.
- But in a Friday court filing, the government argued that it does not have to cover the safety net food benefits in full and called for an appeals court to block the judge's ruling.
- The government requested that the stay on Thursday's order be issued by no later than 4pm ET on Friday.
State of play: The USDA's latest payment guidance is based on the assumption that November benefits will be reduced.
How SNAP payments work
How it works: SNAP is a federally funded program administered through the states.
- Millions of Americans enrolled in the program must meet income limits and specific requirements to become enrolled, which are based on which state they live in.
- Household size, monthly income and your expenses all factor into your maximum SNAP payment.
- Most people who use SNAP typically spend their benefits in the same month they receive them, Axios' Emily Peck wrties.
USDA lowers SNAP payments for November
Zoom in: The Agriculture Department initially shared payment guidance on Nov. 4. However, it was riddled with errors, indicating that payments would be reduced by 50%.
- The USDA then revised its guidance to suggest payments would be slashed by 35%.
- Maximum payments for November will be roughly 65% of the typical maximum allotment, the USDA said.
Maximum SNAP payments for November
The USDA's revised table of payments is based on household sizes in the upper 48 states and Washington, D.C..
- Household size of one — $193 (normally $298)
- Household size of two — $355 (normally $546)
- Household size of three — $510 (normally $785)
- Household size of four — $646 (normally $994)
- Household size of five — $769 (normally $1,183)
- Household size of six — $924 (normally $1,421)
- Household size of seven — $1,021 (normally $1,571)
- Household size of eight — $1,163 (normally $1,789)
- Each additional person after — $142 (normally $218)
SNAP payments for Hawaii and Alaska
The USDA also offered guidance on reduced payments for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands..
- Alaska divides payments into three categories based on where families live. Two of the categories are for rural families and the other is focused on urban households.
- Alaska has the highest of any payment amount — $2,334 for a household of eight living in a "Rural II" location, like the North Slope Borough.
Yes, but: These are maximum allotments for all 50 states, D.C, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Recipients must subtract these amounts by 30% of their income to find their November benefit total. Some SNAP recipients may find they will receive no benefits for the month if reduced payouts go forward.
Minimum SNAP payments for November
The USDA also lowered minimum payments for one- and two-person households across all states and territories — which is also less than the normal minimums.
- 48 states and D.C. — $16 (normally $24)
- Guam — $23 (normally $35)
- U.S. Virgin Islands — $20 (normally $31)
- Alaska (Urban) — $20 (normally $31)
- Alaska (Rural 1) — $26 (normally $39)
- Alaska (Rural II) — $31 (normally $48)
- Hawaii — $26 (normally $41)
When will November SNAP payments arrive?
It's unclear. Millions of Americans are already going without their payments, and the courtroom chaos may delay that even longer.
- The federal judge's ruling that payments should be issued by end-of-day Friday is now up in the air, given the Trump administration's appeal.
- President Trump said earlier this week that SNAP beneficiaries will only be paid once the shutdown ends, but the White House later said it was complying with the court orders.
More from Axios:
What SNAP beneficiaries are getting in November
The U.S. job market is slowing, not collapsing
Trump administration plan to partially fund SNAP benefits could take months
