After President Donald Trump signed a bill passed by Congress to end the longest government shutdown in US history, the outlook for citizens concerned about the reinstatement of SNAP benefits has improved. However, there is some uncertainty.
In November, the Supreme Court agreed to extend the suspension of a federal judge’s order requiring the current administration to fully fund SNAP benefits. Some states have paid out full benefits this month, while others have sent out partial or no payments at all.
A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) told CBS News that recipients would be notified of any delayed services “within 24 hours” of the government shutdown ending.
Experts expect the flow of benefits to begin quickly, though the exact timing may vary by state.
Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), advised food stamp recipients to check their state’s family and social services websites for updates on when payments would be issued.
The SNAP schedule varies by state
According to the Associated Press, at least 19 states and the District of Columbia provided full benefits to some recipients last week. That money was distributed during the brief period between a court ruling ordering the federal government to pay full SNAP benefits and the Supreme Court’s decision.
In addition, 16 states have loaded EBT cards used in SNAP with partial benefits to prioritize feeding families, the AP reported.
SNAP funds, distributed by the federal government to states each month, support approximately one in eight families, who receive an average of $188 per person per month, or about $6 per day. These funds are administered through prepaid cards that can be used to purchase food.
When could SNAP payments resume?
The timeline depends heavily on when the government shutdown ends. The current deal, if passed, would fund SNAP through September 2026. The USDA spokesperson made it clear that funding will begin to flow “within 24 hours in most states” once the government is declared reopened.
If the government reopens, payments should resume as normal, although delays and confusion could still occur, according to Wendy Weller, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior at the University at Albany, State University of New York.
In theory, if it’s fully funded, they would just pick up where they left off; it should be fine, but I can foresee there being delays.
Wendy Weller, academic at the State University of New York, to The Independent
What is the current status of the legal battle over SNAP benefits?
SNAP payments are the focus of an ongoing legal battle during the government shutdown.
According to the Trump administration, SNAP funding ran out on November 1. The USDA reported that it was “working to implement the full issuance of November 2025 benefits in compliance with the November 6, 2025 order of the Rhode Island District Court.” However, the following day, the agency directed states to “immediately reverse any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025,” causing even more confusion.
A federal judge temporarily halted the USDA order. Attorney General D. John Sauer told the Supreme Court that the Senate’s interim agreement may make the government’s most recent request unnecessary.
If that proposal is ultimately adopted by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, it would end the government shutdown and nullify this request.
John Sauer, Attorney General
