USDA & SNAP
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income individuals & families to help them afford healthy foods.
Why SNAP Benefits Are Delayed
Starting November 1, 2025, SNAP benefits are expected to be paused. The hold up comes from Congress not reaching an agreement on the federal budget for the 2026 fiscal year. Because funding hasn’t been approved, the USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) doesn’t have the federal dollars it needs to send to states for the next benefit cycle. The USDA has also stated it won’t use emergency funds to keep payments going. This means more than $5 billion in food help that families usually receive each month will not be sent out.
Even if the federal government shutdown ends now, there will still be delays in obtaining November SNAP benefits.
Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York, said the potential halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits could lead to a public health crisis putting “one million children and over 600,000 older adults lives at risk.”
Emergency Funding
NY Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated short term relief by allocating emergency state funds to keep food pantries stocked & assist families facing benefit delays.
If You Are a SNAP Benefit Recipient
Please continue to follow all SNAP rules & requirements to keep your benefits active. This includes recertifying on time & reporting any changes in income, address, or household size.
Even though new SNAP recipients approved after November 1 may not receive benefits until the shutdown ends, applications are still being accepted. If you need to apply or check your case, only use the official state websites or apps.
You can also check your balance or updates by text from your local SNAP office or EBT service. Your SNAP balance will remain available & does not expire.
The NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance (OTDA) & the city’s Human Resources Administration (HRA) use their websites & apps to inform recipients about delays & status updates.
Where to Find Food Help in NYC
If your SNAP benefits are delayed, local food banks, soup kitchens & community programs can help. Public schools often act as emergency food distribution hubs for students & families. As we braced ourselves for cuts, many schools have launched their own emergency food drives. Contact your local public schools for more information.
If you need help right away, you can also call the Hunger Free America Food Assistance Hotline at (866) 3-HUNGRY (866-348-6479) for guidance in English or Spanish.
-Find free food distributions across NYC.
-Search by ZIP code for nearby food pantries and community meals.
-NYC 311: Call 311 or visit NYC 311 website
Search “food assistance” to find free groceries & meals near you.
-Food Help NYC
Use this resource to locate food access points in your local area
You can apply for cash assistance, this is still available during the federal government shutdown. Visit the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to learn more about the federal government shutdown & November SNAP benefits.