In a quiet Rochester kitchen, 36-year-old nurse Carla Rivera swipes her EBT card for a $12 bag of rice and beans.
“This is it, October’s end,” she says, her voice tight as she unloads groceries for her four children. “November? It’s school lunch or nothing.”
Rivera’s last grocery trip captures the fear rippling across New York as nearly 3 million SNAP recipients face a potential halt to food assistance on Nov. 1. The warning comes as federal funds run out amid a prolonged government shutdown.
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Governor Kathy Hochul sounded the alarm Oct. 27, warning that SNAP benefits may not be issued Nov. 1 unless Congress approves a new funding bill.
“SNAP benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1 unless Congress acts,” Hochul said in a statement. “We are urging New Yorkers to stretch their October benefits and contact 211 for help if needed.”
To cushion the blow, Hochul announced $30 million in emergency state funding to help food banks and schools feed families. But she acknowledged that state dollars “can’t replace $1 billion in federal support.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed it has no federal funding left to issue November SNAP payments without a continuing resolution (CR).
State officials say October benefits remain safe but warn that November assistance could be delayed or suspended.
New York’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) posted guidance reminding residents to keep using their EBT cards and continue recertifications and applications in case funding is restored.
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Local agencies echo the alert. Livingston County told residents that October deposits will remain valid but that November payments are not guaranteed until Congress acts.
Rivera’s $550 monthly SNAP benefit feeds her blended family, but with rent swallowing 60 percent of her $2,800 income, she has little room to spare.
“Kids ask why dinner’s always the same,” she says.
The Democrat and Chronicle spoke with families across the state who echoed her fear. Some parents say they’re skipping proteins to stretch what’s left of their benefits. Others are turning to pantries already reporting record demand.
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The USDA estimates food prices remain 12 percent higher than in 2023, leaving families less able to absorb any pause in aid.
Hochul’s $30 million food-support plan directs funds to pantries, community organizations, and school meal expansions.
But the scale is daunting: SNAP supports about 3 million New Yorkers, including 1.2 million children and half a million seniors and disabled adults. The potential shortfall totals nearly $1 billion in monthly aid.
Urban areas like Buffalo report overwhelmed food banks, while residents in rural regions such as the Adirondacks face 30-mile drives to reach assistance centers.
If Congress passes a continuing resolution before Oct. 31, SNAP payments may resume without disruption.
If not, November 2025 could mark the first time in SNAP’s 60-year history that benefits are paused nationwide.
For now, state officials advise residents to:
- Check OTDA’s SNAP Shutdown FAQ otda.ny.gov/snap-benefits-shutdown.asp
- Stock up on shelf-stable groceries
- Call 211 for food or emergency assistance
Rivera says she’s praying for action and planning for the worst.
“SNAP’s not a charity,” she says. “It’s survival.”
