Overview
- After funding lapsed on Nov. 1, federal judges directed the administration to tap roughly $4.6–$5 billion in contingency funds that cover only about half of a typical month’s SNAP costs.
- USDA guidance caps November benefits at about 50% of normal, with examples showing a two‑person household capped at $273 and a four‑person household at $497.
- State agencies must recalculate individual allotments and update EBT systems before issuing payments, leading to unclear timelines and notices of benefits arriving in the coming weeks.
- USDA indicated benefits will not be paid to people who enroll in SNAP during November, further limiting assistance beyond the across‑the‑board reductions.
- Nevada Senate Democrats plan legislation for a temporary state‑funded SNAP backstop as food banks report surging demand and some Montana tribal nations declare emergencies.