Here’s what Mainers who receive SNAP benefits need to know:
November federal SNAP benefits cannot be issued until the federal shutdown ends or new guidance is provided by FNS.
At this time, SNAP benefits already loaded onto EBT cards remain available for use to purchase food.
Applications, renewals, and other updates continue to be accepted and processed by Maine DHHS during the federal shutdown.
SNAP recipients are encouraged to sign up for e-noticing through My Maine Connection, which provides the fastest access to updates and notifications.
Recipients should ensure that contact information, such as phone number and mailing address, remains current with Maine DHHS.
For help finding information on other available resources, call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211. You can also visit 211Maine.org. When the federal shutdown ends, more information will be available about the future of federal SNAP benefits.
Maine DHHS will share updates as soon as additional information becomes available.
This change affects all federal SNAP recipients nationwide and cannot be appealed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program, sent letters on Oct. 10 to the state agencies that administer SNAP telling them not to send certain files to the contractors that would clear the way for the EBT cards to be loaded at the start of November.
