How will the Federal Government shutdown affect November SNAP Benefits?
On October 10, 2025, the federal government warned that there may not be enough funding to pay November SNAP benefits if the appropriation lapse continues past November 1st. This means the federal government might not be able to cover the cost of SNAP benefits for the month of November.
On October 29, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in New York State and is allocating funds to support food banks, soup kitchens, and more outlets trying to help families get emergency food.
What to do if you currently receive SNAP:
You will be notified about the status of your November SNAP benefits by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) through the OTDA website, NYC ACCESS HRA, myBenefits, the ebtEDGE app, and by text.
To find help getting food, contact your local Independent Living Center and/or visit:
Find Your Regional Food Bank: locate the regional food bank and Emergency Food Relief Organizations (EFRO) in your area.
The Food Pantries Food Connect Map: find local food pantries, community meals, mobile food resources and more.
Resources for Working Families: discover nutrition programs and resources that can help you feed your family.
Feeding America: Enter a zip code to find a local food bank from the vast Feeding America network of local partners.
Foodfinder: The nationwide free-to-use resource and nonprofit helps connect people in need to nearby food pantries across the U.S.
Freedge: This nonprofit sharing resource points to a network of community refrigerators stocked and cared for by communities that are available 24/7 to anyone.
211 has the most up-to-date information about local assistance that may be available to you. Simply call 211 from a cell phone or landline to speak with a live, highly trained service professional. If you prefer to text or chat online, you can search your local 211 online database too.
How to help people losing SNAP benefits:
Support the Feeding America network or your local food pantry/kitchen. You can also contact your members of Congress to advocate for SNAP policies, help run a food drive, or support organizations that fight hunger and provide food assistance.