Federal officials announced Tuesday that full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be available to participants for the month of February.
Roughly 137,000 Delaware residents rely on SNAP, according to state officials.
During the government shutdown, the USDA can fund program obligations within 30 days of the last Continuing Resolution, which expired Dec. 21. The agency plans to issue February benefits to states early.
A spokesperson with Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services says benefits must be loaded on EBT cards by Jan. 20. The department expects to issue February’s SNAP benefits sometime next week.
Federal officials say the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children has prior funding that will facilitate February benefits. Child nutrition programs including school meals and after-school programs have funding to continue operating through March.
The USDA has not said how SNAP will be funded in March if the shutdown continues.
