States warn food stamp recipients to budget early benefit payments due to shutdown

[left-of-center2012]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees food stamps, counted almost 43.6 million people in the program in April 2016, the most recent data available.

State agencies are warning food stamp recipients to carefully budget their grocery purchases once they receive their February benefits weeks earlier than normal due to the partial government shutdown.

The Department of Agriculture's backup plan for paying out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits amid the lapse in funding means it could be 40 days — or longer, in some cases — before additional money is added to recipients' benefit cards. There is also no guarantee about when nearly 39 million low-income Americans will next receive another payment to help them buy groceries.

"Unless the federal shutdown is resolved, benefits for March MAY NOT be available," read a sample message California officials sent to county welfare directors to help spread the word to recipients. "We are waiting for federal guidance and will keep you informed."

The Department of Agriculture has declined to discuss other funding options that might be available if the shutdown is not resolved before it is time to pay out March benefits.

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/15/state-food-stamp-benefits-shutdown-2491182

[Girard442]

1. You're going to have to stay underwater for a half-hour...

...so try to conserve your breath.

Assholes.

[genxlib]

2. The concerns of the poor will go unheeded

However, the retailers will start to howl bloody murder when there sales go down. Grocery is a low margin business and they will not be happy.

It will end when the business base of the GOP gets involved. It could be months later than necessary and well after a lot of pain and suffering. But it will end.

[Runningdawg]

3. I live on what most of Tulsa considers the "wrong side of the tracks"

We have 2 grocery stores and what was happening in one yesterday caught my attention. Strangers who didn't know each other were standing around in groups discussing the shut down and the food stamp issue. They were certainly worried. I mentioned it to one of the checkers I have talked to for years, she told me management was sweating bullets, a couple weeks with no food stamp sales and they will be out of business and she and the others out of a job. I going to bet it's much the same for the other store too.
I really wish there was some way to put those of us who can help in touch with those who need it. I contribute to 2 food banks, but if I knew someone on my street needed help, I would make them a priority.