Government Closing Threatens November SNAP Benefits
Local Department of Social Services agencies are encouraging SNAP recipients to act now in the event the government shutdown lingers into November and potentially suspends benefits.
By Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Editor’s Note: The government shutdown threatens to affect the distribution of SNAP benefits beginning in November. If you are concerned about your SNAP benefits, please contact your local Department of Social Services office. For those who would like to assist the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, which is likely to see increased numbers of people looking for help, consider making a donation to the food bank.
The government shutdown is now into its 18th day. To this point, government workers have borne the brunt of the pain. This past week was the first time that they felt the shutdown in their paychecks.
There are signs that Washington’s inability to come to terms on the budget, however, are beginning to unsettle more than government workers in local communities.
Diamond Localities Issue SNAP Warnings
Across the Diamond this week, localities have issued warnings that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients could see November benefits delayed or interrupted owing to the government shutdown.
Fredericksburg issued its warning on Friday. Spotsylvania issued a similar warning on Thursday, and Stafford has also alerted its residents.
How significant the impacts are depends on the timing of the government re-opening.
If Congress can reach an agreement in coming days, the impact to SNAP beneficiaries should be minimal, with only a slight delay in funds distribution possible.
However, if the shutdown drags into November, benefits could be delayed or suspended, according to the information circulated by local DSS agencies.
All three are encouraging SNAP beneficiaries to stretch their benefits by “buying essential, nonperishable foods and stretching your purchasing power with fresh fruits and vegetables by using Virginia Fresh Match.”
People are also being encouraged to access the Pantry Locator Map and the Mobile Pantry Schedule.
Those wishing to help support families during this time are being encouraged to make financial contributions to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.
Who Is Affected?
Data from the Virginia Department of Social Services reports that 439,865 households receive SNAP benefits. In total, these households 854,169 people.
By localities, the number of households and people receiving SNAP are:
In total, this means nearly 33,000 individuals may lose access to their benefits in November.
Food banks are anticipating significantly increased demand if the shutdown drags into November.
“Unfortunately, the loss of SNAP benefits on a community-wide scale would put enormous pressure on charitable food assistance organizations to quickly scale up food supplies that would ordinarily be acquired through retail store transactions,” said Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank CEO Dan Maher in a text message to the Advance.
“Retailers would likely order less food with no SNAP funds being spent in their stores, which would mean reduced donations of leftover food items to us just when more people are turning to us for aid.”
But it’s not just the SNAP beneficiaries who stand to lose.
According to Maher, “Massive loss of the economic benefits of SNAP in our community would produce a tsunami of collateral communal damage that will require significant immediate financial resources to fill.”
In closing, Maher said this: “We appeal for that help from those in our community who are not as likely to be affected by that damage.”
This is a developing story.
Updated October 17 at 7:30 p.m. to include quotes from Dan Maher of the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank.
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