SNAP food aid gets to people in some states while others remain in limbo amid court battles

SNAP Benefits Rollout Becomes Patchwork Across States Amid Legal Battles

Americans who rely on federal food assistance face an uneven landscape this weekend as some states begin distributing delayed November benefits while others remain in limbo following a series of rapid legal developments.

The uncertainty began when the Trump administration announced it would not fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November due to the government shutdown. This decision affected nearly 42 million Americans—approximately one in eight—who depend on these monthly benefits to purchase groceries.

Following a federal judge’s order Thursday requiring the administration to provide full funding, some states quickly began issuing benefits to recipients’ electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards on Friday. However, the situation grew more complex when Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused that judicial order Friday night to allow an appeals court in Boston time to consider the case.

Despite the Supreme Court’s pause, several states continued distributing funds, creating a geographic disparity in who receives assistance.

“We moved with haste once we verified everything,” said Joseph Campos II, deputy director of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services, explaining their quick action to release funds.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek noted state employees “worked through the night” to issue full November benefits. Officials in California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Rhode Island also confirmed at least some recipients received their full November payments before or despite the Supreme Court order.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating his team is “working through the weekend” to address what he called “a crisis for families.” In Rhode Island alone, approximately 79,000 households have received their benefits.

The impact of the delay has been substantial for vulnerable communities. Most SNAP recipients live below the poverty line, which is approximately $32,000 for a family of four. An individual can receive a monthly maximum food benefit of nearly $300, while a family of four may qualify for up to $1,000, though many receive less based on income calculations.

Food banks across the country have reported surging demand as families await their benefits. Some states have allocated emergency funding to food banks and pantries to help them meet the increased need, while others used state dollars to provide direct payments to recipients during the federal funding impasse.

The situation in North Carolina highlights the challenges faced by many. State Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai acknowledged that more than 190,000 households there received just $16 or less after the state paused full benefit payments following the Supreme Court’s order.

For millions of Americans still waiting, the timeline remains uncertain. Before Justice Jackson’s pause, New York had announced full benefits would begin by Sunday, while New Hampshire expected them over the weekend. Arizona and Minnesota had also indicated benefits would be accessible in coming days.

Many state officials indicated they were awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers SNAP, before proceeding.

The legal battle centers on funding mechanisms. After initially declaring November benefits unavailable, the administration—following court rulings preventing a complete skip of November payments—said it would use an emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion to provide partial benefits. Thursday’s judicial order mandated using other funds to make full monthly payments, which the administration appealed.

In its Supreme Court filing, the Trump administration noted “there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds” already distributed, highlighting the complexity of the situation as it continues to unfold.

For the millions of Americans who rely on SNAP for basic nutrition, the ongoing legal battles translate to real uncertainty about when—or if—they’ll receive their full November benefits, creating a patchwork system where access to food assistance now depends largely on where one lives.