The US Department of Agriculture warns state agencies that if the federal shutdown continues, the funding for the SNAP benefit in November 2025 will not be enough. SNAP benefit recipients who are wondering about the funding shortage and payment can check everything here.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program offers food assistance to low-income families from the federal funds that state or local agencies administer. The eligible recipients receive the payout to buy groceries and can afford nutrition or essential food.
Millions of people in the US earning low income depend on the SNAP benefits to buy food, hence it is highly important. But now the federal shutdown has put uncertainty over the benefit amount in November 2025.
What will happen to SNAP Benefits November 2025?
The US Federal government announced the federal shutdown on 01 October 2025 because Congress failed to pass legislation for the new fiscal year. The federal shutdown is continuing as we stand in the third week of the month, raising concerns for several federal operations.
The federal funding is closed for the benefits funded by the government, hence the SNAP benefit is also affected. The October 2025 fund was processed earlier; hence, it was not affected, but now people are concerned about the November 2025 fund.
On 10 October 2025, the USDA said they have to cut down the SNAP benefits if the federal shutdown continues past 27 October 2025. The department reports that the insufficient funding can affect 42 million individuals across the country.
How are US states preparing for the SNAP benefit shortage?
The USDA has sent the notice to all state authorities, and now the states are preparing for the benefit shortage. US states like North Carolina, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have begun issuing warnings to the eligible recipients about the November 2025 payment fund shortage.
The states usually send the data of the eligible beneficiaries to the SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer vendor each month, but due to the fund shortage, the USDA has directed the states to hold the information sharing until further notice is sent.
The states are now evaluating how the further federal shutdown can affect the SNAP recipients in their state and how they can handle the disruption. The States will assist the citizens with the SNAP benefit, so be vigilant and stay updated.
When can we expect the federal shutdown to discontinue?
It’s been 18 days since the government shutdown, and we are still counting, as the Republicans and Democrats have not come to any agreement. Recently, the Senate failed to reopen the government as voting did not come in favor.
Now the next Senate vote to end the US federal government shutdown is scheduled on 20 October 2025 (Monday) at 5:30 PM. If it becomes successful, we can expect the shutdown to be over; otherwise, be ready to lose your SNAP benefits and disruption to other benefits.
This federal shutdown is the third longest shutdown in history, the longest shutdown lasted for 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. During that shutdown, the benefits were later paid in February and the Congress sanctioned emergency funds to keep the payments continuing in the next month.
What is the SNAP Benefit payment amount for 2025?
The state authority is independent to decide the SNAP eligibility, payment amount, and application process, but the federal government has also set the standard distribution of the benefit based on the family size that many states follow.
So, if there was no disruption, you would have received the following SNAP benefits amount depending on the family size:
| Household Size | SNAP Maximum Benefit |
| 01 | $298 |
| 02 | $546 |
| 03 | $785 |
| 04 | $994 |
| 05 | $1183 |
| 06 | $1421 |
| 07 | $1571 |
| 08 | $1789 |
| For each additional person | $218+ |
If the shutdown continues you can lose the mentioned SNAP benefit this November 2025 or until the shutdown is off. So, if you are recipients, you should reach out to your state or wait till 20 October 2025 for the update on the shutdown.
If the shutdown resolves before 27 October 2025, there will be no effect on your SNAP November 2025 payment, hence keep an eye on the upcoming voting. However, if the shutdown continues, the state will notify the recipients about the next course of action related to the benefit.
Disclaimer: SNAP November 2025 details are informational; official sources confirm payments.
