The Trump administration announced on November 3, 2025, that SNAP benefits for November will only be paid at 50% of normal amounts due to the ongoing government shutdown. This decision affects nearly 42 million Americans who rely on food stamp assistance each month.
The government will use $4.65 billion from SNAP’s emergency contingency fund to cover about half of the usual monthly benefits for eligible recipients. Federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ordered this partial funding after SNAP payments stopped completely on November 1 when the shutdown began, according to CNN and Reuters.
This is the first time in SNAP history that recipients will receive only partial monthly benefits during a government funding crisis. In past shutdowns, emergency funds covered full benefit amounts.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said payments could start arriving by November 5, but warned that some states may need weeks or even months to update their computer systems. State agencies must reprogram their benefit distribution systems to process the reduced 50% payment amounts correctly.
Key details SNAP recipients need to know:
- Households that normally receive $350 monthly will get only $175 in November
- The remaining $600 million in contingency funds will cover state administrative costs
- Any leftover money on EBT cards from previous months can still be used
- New SNAP applicants for November likely won’t receive benefits in this cycle
- The administration declined to use an additional $4 billion available from other sources
The government shutdown started on October 1, 2025, and is now approaching record length at over 34 days. When SNAP benefits stopped flowing on November 1, families rushed to food pantries and emergency food programs across the country.
The partial funding plan raises serious concerns about food security for millions of low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities who depend on SNAP to buy groceries. Most SNAP households already struggle to make benefits last the entire month at full payment levels.
Federal judges ruled that using contingency funds was a legal obligation during the funding lapse, but the courts did not require full payment. The administration chose to split available emergency money to extend partial coverage rather than provide one month of full benefits.
SNAP benefits are distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that work like debit cards at grocery stores. Recipients should check their state SNAP agency websites for specific information about when the reduced November payments will load onto their cards.
The partial funding will continue until Congress passes a budget and the government reopens with full appropriations for SNAP and other nutrition assistance programs.
For official information, recipients should visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website or contact their state SNAP office directly. The USDA administers SNAP through state and local agencies nationwide.
