SNAP Benefits Are Expiring. Here Are Some Ways to Help Online

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits expire in two days in the middle of a nearly month-long period. government shutdown. Based on fiscal year 2024, nearly 42 million low-income Americans relied on SNAP to buy groceries and receive crucial food assistance.

States are now scrambling to find ways to offer food and emergency assistance after November 1. More than two dozen states have sued the Trump administration for failing to fund SNAP. And some online companies are stepping in to help, including HelloFresh And PorteDash.

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Why SNAP Benefits Expire and Why It Matters

The Department of Health and Human Services website states that the federal government shutdown is impacting November SNAP benefits and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Starting next month, beneficiaries will only be able to access current funds on their EBT cards from previous months.

Since the shutdown began on October 1, federal funding for several agencies has been cut off. Many federal workers, such as TSA employees and air traffic controllers, have either been on leave or missed paychecks due to the shutdown. Today, SNAP – a government-funded program during the Great Depression era, also commonly known as food stamps – is in danger.

According to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in fiscal year 2024, more than 62% of people who received SNAP benefits were families with children. The average SNAP benefit for a household member was $163 per month.

According to CNN, if the government does not find a solution in the next two days to fund SNAP, the program’s benefits will be cut for the first time in its history.

“The well is dry. At this time, no benefits will be paid on November 1,” reads a message at the top of the USDA website.

Democratic leaders from 25 states are behind Tuesday’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over its refusal to use a $6 billion contingency fund to maintain SNAP. Point 5 of the lawsuit, shared by Politico, reads: “USDA suspended SNAP benefits even though, based on information and belief, it has sufficient funds to fund all, or at least a substantial portion, of November SNAP benefits.”

Go online and find a food bank near you

If you’re not dependent on SNAP, there are ways to help those who are. To find a food bank near you, visit the Feeding America website and enter your zip code. Some state government websites have similar information, but not all. You can donate food or volunteer to work at food banks.

You can also look for ways to help your community. Check the websites of charities and non-profit organizations, as well as mutual aid services, including community fridges. Facebook groups, online forums, local schools and hospitals, and religious entities are also setting up programs to help families buy groceries or have meals delivered. Before donating food, check with the organization to see what is most needed.

Some states offer assistance

Some state governments are activating emergency aid to populations and food banks, including California, New York, West Virginia, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut and Washington. There will also be weekly emergency benefits in Delaware, rent and utility payment relief in Hawaii, funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in Kentucky, and a new emergency nutrition assistance initiative to distribute funds in Virginia.

Some other states have also declared states of emergency or ordered the National Guard to help distribute food.

Donations of meal kits and food delivery services

Donations and charity will not meet the food needs of more than 42 million people, but temporary measures can help ease some of the hardship while benefits are suspended for some households.

HelloFresh will donate $1 for every fall-themed meal kit purchased from its seasonal menu, up to a total of $50,000, to benefit No Kid Hungry, which helps SNAP and school lunch programs. (Available during the weeks of November 8 and 15, the two HelloFresh meal kits include creamy sun-dried tomato stuffed chicken with mashed potatoes and garlicky green beans; and crispy chicken cutlets and rigatoni in a creamy butternut squash sauce.)

Food delivery business PorteDash launched an emergency food response as SNAP benefits expired. According to a press release, the company will deliver 1 million free meals to more than 300 Project Dash partner food banks, waive delivery and service fees for SNAP recipients and donate food to local food banks from its DashMart stores.

“We know this is a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing is simply not an option,” said Max Rettig, vice president and global head of public policy at DoorDash.

Although not linked to the SNAP program, another popular meal kit, Chef at homedonates $100,000 each year to Feeding America.

Food delivery service Gopuff is offering SNAP recipients a $50 credit in November for all SNAP eligible items, which will be delivered free of charge.

How to get your $50 SNAP credit from Gopuff

If you’re a SNAP recipient, here’s how to get a $50 credit in November:

• Make sure a SNAP EBT card has been added to your Gopuff account.
• Add SNAP eligible items to your Gopuff cart (these items will be clearly marked if eligible).
• Use code SNAPRELIEF1 at checkout for $25 off and free shipping November 1-15.
• Use code SNAPRELIEF2 at checkout for $25 off and free shipping November 16-30.

How to Get SNAP Items Delivered for Free on DoorDash

If you’re a SNAP recipient, here’s how to get free shipping and no service fees on an order in November:

• Make sure a SNAP EBT card has been added to your DoorDash account.
• Place an order from a SNAP-enabled store on DoorDash. They will be clearly marked and include Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Food Lion, Giant Foods, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle and Wegmans.
• Use promo code SNAPDD at checkout.