Over 1,000,000 low-income residents in Massachusetts on track to not receive SNAP next month

Massachusetts residents relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) are facing uncertainty for their November benefits amid the ongoing federal government shutdown that began on October 1st.

According to releases issued by several states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has informed all states, including Massachusetts, that no SNAP funding will be available for November if the shutdown persists beyond October 27th, potentially halting new benefit issuances and leaving millions without access to groceries. Recipients could see their EBT cards run dry without replenishment, exacerbating food insecurity for over 1,000,000 low-income residents in the state.

State officials, including the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, have urged SNAP users to stretch current October benefits and stock up where possible, while warning that emergency allotments won’t bridge the gap if federal funds lapse.

The shutdown, triggered by congressional gridlock over spending bills, has already disrupted other services, but SNAP’s vulnerability stems from its reliance on annual USDA appropriations.

Advocacy groups like the Greater Boston Food Bank are mobilizing food pantries and mutual aid networks as backups, but experts predict widespread hardship if no resolution comes soon.