WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 6, 2025, 2:45pm EDT
By T. Williams, Staff Reporter
In a partial reversal of earlier projections, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will receive up to 65% of their monthly benefits in November 2025—an increase from the previously estimated 50%. The adjustment comes after two federal judges ordered the USDA to tap into its contingency fund to continue food assistance during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Emergency Funding and Judicial Intervention
Initially, the Trump administration stated it could only provide half of the usual SNAP benefits due to legal constraints on using emergency funds during a shutdown. However, following court orders issued on October 31, the USDA revised its guidance, confirming that it could disburse approximately $4.65 billion from its contingency reserves. This funding will allow eligible households to receive about two-thirds of their normal allotments, though the exact timing of disbursements remains uncertain.
For example:
- A family of four will receive up to $646 for November.
- A single individual will receive up to $193.
Impact on Families and Communities
The partial payments have left many of the nation’s 42 million SNAP recipients scrambling to adjust. Students, seniors, and working families are reporting empty refrigerators and overwhelmed food pantries. In Rhode Island, the state government used emergency funds to provide 25% of normal benefits to families with children, but demand has far outpaced supply.
“We had a client that came in and was afraid she’d have to go back to eating cat food,” said Stacy Smith, a union representative in Rhode Island’s Department of Human Services.
In Texas, pawn shop owners are bracing for increased activity as residents seek alternative ways to make ends meet. Clay Baron, owner of Dave’s A Pawnshop in El Paso, noted, “The poor are just going to keep getting poorer”.
Delays and Uncertainty
Despite the USDA’s commitment to partial funding, no clear timeline has been provided for when the money will reach recipients. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins warned that it could take weeks or even months for states to update their systems and distribute the reduced benefits.
Additionally, new SNAP applicants certified in November may not receive any benefits, and disaster assistance funds remain frozen. Analysts from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimate that nearly 5 million people may receive only minimum benefits of $12, while 1.2 million households could receive nothing at all.
Looking Ahead
While the emergency funding offers temporary relief, advocates warn that December could bring renewed hardship if the shutdown continues. Food banks, state agencies, and community organizations are urging Congress to resolve the impasse and fully restore SNAP funding.
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