SNAP Benefits Halted In GA Due To Government Shutdown

More than a million Georgians will not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits next month due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, according to a letter sent to states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As the shutdown prepares to enter its fourth week on Wednesday, this latest disruption could affect the nearly 42 million Americans, including 1,356,493 Georgians, who receive SNAP benefits to help pay for groceries.

"We have asked our payment vendor for a project plan on how quickly they can issue benefits once the shutdown has ceased and will coordinate actions accordingly. We understand how important SNAP benefits are to Georgia families and are closely monitoring the situation," the Georgia Department of Human Services told Patch on Tuesday.

The SNAP program helps low-income people buy produce, meat, dairy and other household food staples. On average, recipients receive a payment of $187 (or roughly $6 per day) on prepaid EBT cards that they can use to purchase items.

While SNAP is a federal program, states are responsible for administering benefits to recipients.

According to the USDA's letter obtained by Time magazine, SNAP benefits will be paid through October. However, if the government shutdown continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay November benefits.

The federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, is now the second-longest on record with no end in sight. Some lawmakers are predicting it could become the longest, surpassing the 35 days from President Donald Trump's first term.

The Trump administration is using the current shutdown to buttress priorities it favors while seeking to dismantle those it does not. Nevertheless, Democrats are insisting that any funding bill include help for millions of Americans who will lose health insurance coverage or face dramatically higher monthly premiums if Congress does nothing.

The Congressional Budget Office also estimated that roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed each day of the shutdown, with the total daily cost of their compensation estimated at roughly $400 million.

Georgia officials have created an online hub of resources for federal workers affected by the shutdown. Congresswoman Lucy McBath, representing Georgia's sixth district, also shared online resources for impacted federal workers.

Workers needing assistance with food may benefit from the Atlanta Community Food Bank, with four community food centers in metro Atlanta, and the Georgia Emergency Food Assistance Program.

A list of local food banks are available via the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

For more information on SNAP, Georgians can visit the Georgia Department of Human Services website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.