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SNAP Payments Paused Amid the Government Shutdown: What You Should Know
- Chase Barnes
- Oct 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 18
UPDATE (11/12/25)
As of Friday November 7th, SNAP Payments have been isssued in full to eligible families. To check your balance at NJFamiliesFirst.com or call (800) 997-3333.
For more information check out https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/
UPDATE (11/6/25)
Federal judges have ruled that SNAP benefits must be issued in November using contingency funds. Details about when, and whether full or partial benefits will be issued, is still unclear.”
If you want to know how you can donate your time, money or food and hyigene products click this to go to that section
How will the government shutdown affect SNAP?
Due to the government shutdown, SNAP payments will not be issued on-time during the month of November. This ultimately will affect many families' ability to buy groceries and also receive Good Food Bucks. EBT Cards will still work, so any SNAP dollars not spent during October will rollover and can be spent during November, but funds for the month of November will not be issued on-time. We encourage any families who will have their SNAP benefits delayed to utilize your local food pantry. Information about finding your closest food pantry can be found below.
SNAP benefits for November should be distributed after the government reopens, or after federal contingency funds are mobilized, the timeline for which is still unknown.
It is expected that a small portion of individuals with SNAP in New Jersey will still receive a portion of their November benefits on-time. This is because New Jersey provides state funding to help support the SNAP program, and funds benefits for anyone who would otherwise receive less than $95 in monthly benefits. This will only apply to roughly 32,000 households in New Jersey. Visit the NJ DHS website for the most up-to-date and accurate information.
Why is this happening?
SNAP payments will not be issued for November because of the US government shutdown that began on October 1st, 2025. The government shutdown started because Congress failed to pass a budget allocation plan for 2026, which allocates certain amounts of money to different agencies such as the USDA, Homeland Security, and the EPA. This year they were unable to come to an agreement of how the money would be allocated, which caused the government to shut down leading to programs like SNAP to remain unfunded. October SNAP benefits had been distributed as the October SNAP budget had been allocated ahead of the shutdown. The shutdown has left millions of families across our country in limbo as they try to feed their families during this crisis.
The USDA does have a contingency fund for SNAP that is meant to help continue funding the program during funding issues like this government shutdown. However, the USDA has decided, for the first time, to not release those funds. Food Security Advocates are calling for the USDA to release these contingency funds during the shutdown to help keep the SNAP program operating. 25 states, including New Jersey, have sued the federal government over their decision to not use the SNAP contingency fund.
As of October 31, 2025, the lawsuit has resulted in two federal judges, one in Rhode Island and one in Massachusetts, ruling that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to fund SNAP using contingency funds during the government shutdown. The government now has until Monday to say whether they will authorize at least reduced benefits for November. The rulings from these judges are likely to face appeals from the federal government. After the ruling, it is unclear how long it will take for benefits to appear on the cards of SNAP beneficiaries, but is likely to take 1-2 weeks minimum for benefits to be loaded.
How will the Government Shutdown affect Good Food Bucks?
To receive Good Food Bucks, you need to pay for fresh fruits and vegetables using SNAP. When the SNAP program is unavailable, you won’t be able to earn Good Food Bucks. If you still have a balance on your card from your October benefits or from the limited New Jersey funding allocation, you will still receive the Good Food Bucks benefit as per usual.
Families who have earned Good Food Bucks from previous purchases before November will still be able to use them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, even during the shutdown. Any paper Good Food Bucks, coupons, or tokens can still be redeemed at the Good Food Bucks you received them from.
Will WIC and Seniors FMNP be affected by the shutdown?
You can still use the FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) until the deadline of November 30th. This program for WIC families and for Seniors will not be affected by the government shutdown and can still be used at farmers markets and farm stands around the state. The WIC program itself has also continued to receive funding through the federal government during the shutdown.
What other changes to SNAP are happening right now?
SNAP was also drastically altered by this Summer’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, which massively cut funding to the SNAP program and shifted some costs from the federal government to state governments. Additionally, if you previously received SNAP benefits without meeting the work requirements, starting November 2nd you may receive notice that you only have 3 months left to access the SNAP program. This is because a waiver that allowed states like New Jersey to provide SNAP payments to people regardless of meeting the work requirements was removed by the Summer Congressional Megabill. You may still be eligible for the SNAP program if you have a qualifying waiver exception, but some of these waivers were also removed by the Summer Congressional Megabill. To learn more about how the SNAP was affected by the Summer Megabill, check out this article from our team.
Emergency Food Resources
To make up for the loss of SNAP, we encourage you to seek out your nearest food pantry during November.
NJ 211
In addition to food pantries and soup kitchens they also have resources about mobile markets, places to get baby formula and baby food, emergency food distribution, meals on wheels, food vouchers and more!
For more information text your zip code to 898-211 or Dial 211 or email them at Info@nj211.org
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey
https://cfbnj.org/find-foods-services/#map-section
You can also text FindFood or Comida to 908-224-7776
Foodshed Alliance NJ
Has free produce pop up markets in Phillipsburg. Check out their instagram for more information https://www.instagram.com/foodshednj/
Donate
For any of our partners who are interested in supporting Good Food Buck partners, food pantries, or other organizations that are doing food security work, here is a list of some organizations you can donate to. The loss of SNAP is going to hit many families throughout our state very hard. Therefore, we also encourage our partners and our NJ community members to donate to their local food pantry or food security organization in November, as pantries are likely to be overwhelmed by the surge in demand.
Use the NJ 211 SNAP Resource Guide to find food pantries and soup kitchens that need donations in food, hygiene products as well as money.
SNAP is such an important food assistance program and its loss will be felt by thousands across NJ. This program isn’t just important for people who use it, it helps grow the local economy and ensures that all people can thrive in our communities. Without SNAP, seniors, children, and adults will have to make hard choices about how to spend their already limited budget. Despite these changes, Good Food Bucks and organizations throughout the state will still be here to support families getting access to healthy food.
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