News

TL;DR

Your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, aka “food stamps”) payments for October 2025 are safe, but if the federal shutdown drags into November, benefits may be delayed or not issued at all. States are already sounding alarms. Households: budget accordingly. Retailers & merchants: authorization/licensing may freeze. Below: what’s going on, how this happened, what to do—and a full state-by-state table on what to expect.

What’s going on

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown when no continuing resolution or full funding bill was passed for the fiscal year. ABC News+3Wikipedia+3CRFB+3
While many major programs are shielded or considered “essential,” the mechanics of the SNAP program mean that a lapse in funding does not immediately halt payments, but gives a finite runway before payments can’t legally be processed. Food Research & Action Center+1

Agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) issue guidance that October benefits should still go out, but they are warning states that November payments may be affected if the shutdown continues. https://www.kcrg.com+1

In short: October is okay, but November is in the danger zone.

Why a “mandatory” program like SNAP can still be disrupted

You may ask: isn’t SNAP a mandated federal program? Yes, eligibility and basic rules are mandated by statute—but the actual issuance of funds depends on appropriations or available carry-over funding. Here’s how the chain works:

• The law says households meeting criteria should receive benefits.
• But to pay benefits, federal agencies need appropriated funding or specific legal authorities that allow continuing obligations during a funding lapse.
• In a shutdown, agencies often rely on contingency/reserve funds or carry-over dollars—but those are limited and time-boxed. CRFB+1
• For SNAP specifically, the clue from the last major shutdown (2018-19) is that there is roughly a 30-day window from the funding lapse before payments may grind to a halt unless Congress acts. GAO

Translation: even though payments were scheduled for October, the November payment schedule is now at risk.

What we learned from 2018-2019 shutdown (and why it matters)

In the 34-day shutdown that ran from Dec 2018-Jan 2019, USDA invoked a maneuver: it allowed states to issue February benefits early (January 20) under a special legal authority built into the previous continuing resolution. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities+1
If the 2025 shutdown drags on beyond that roughly 30-day mark, we could see similar emergency moves—or worse, a failure to issue benefits altogether. The 2019 playbook shows this isn’t theoretical.

Who and how many could be impacted?

SNAP serves roughly 42 million Americans. Business Insider+1
States with large uptake and/or high dependence will feel the pain harder. For example, in Pennsylvania nearly 2 million people rely on SNAP and have already been told that November payments may not go out. WITF+1

So yes, we’re talking about real scale, not a small niche program.

What households should do now

If you or someone you know is on SNAP, here’s your action checklist:

1. Monitor your state agency’s announcements. Many are issuing warnings or updates about November.
2. Check your EBT card balance. If you have unspent funds, you can use them—what’s already loaded is still accessible.
3. Budget cautiously for November. Assume either a delay or reduced benefit unless you hear otherwise.
4. Avoid scams. Shutdowns breed misinformation—stick to official state .gov sites or USDA.
5. Explore emergency food aid. Food banks, community pantries may need to step in if benefits are delayed.
6. Stay informed about changes. Sometimes states roll out work-requirement changes or other rules—make sure you remain eligible.

What retailers and merchants (especially payment-processing folks like us) should know

Since you’re in the payments business, this hits home: if you accept SNAP/EBT payments in your store, make sure you’re aware of:

• Existing authorizations/renewals: during a shutdown, new retailer applications and renewals may be frozen until funding resumes. Food Research & Action Center+1
• Transactions for existing authorized stores should still go through if benefits are loaded. If a store’s authorization lapses during a shutdown, accepting SNAP could become a compliance issue.
• Help your merchants prepare for customer confusion or delay—clear signage may help.
• Monitor state and FNS updates: some states are already putting out statements indicating stoppage, so merchants must stay ahead.

Table: What to Expect by State

Below is the full state summary compiled from USDA/FNS directories and official state announcements (last updated October 22, 2025).

Why timing matters

Here’s why October being “safe” but November being shaky is a key point:

• Payment files for SNAP must be transmitted from states to EBT vendors on a schedule. The USDA has already told states to hold November files and delay transmission until further notice. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul+1
• If the shutdown continues past the roughly 30-day window, USDA’s ability to legally obligate funds runs out without new congressional action. GAO+1
• As of now, payments for October are funded (because they were scheduled/loaded before the lapse). November requires new action.
• Delay = hardship. For many households, SNAP is the grocery lifeline. A week’s delay or a partial payment can ripple into missed meals, skipped prescriptions, and emergency borrowing.

What could fix this (and what might happen)

Here are the main scenarios:

1. Congress acts quickly
   If a continuing resolution (CR) or full appropriations bill passes, funding flows; November payments proceed as scheduled.
   2. USDA invokes contingency/early issuance
   Like in 2019, USDA could authorize early issuance of benefits for all households (front-load November into October). That would alleviate disruption, but requires legal authority and state action rapidly. USDA+1
   3. Partial or delayed issuance
   Payments may go out late, or only a portion of the usual benefit amount may be loaded.
   4. Full halt for November
   In some states, if the shutdown persists beyond the contingency window, no November issuance until funding resumes. Some states are already in this posture.

Which scenario unfolds depends on politics (Congress) and process (USDA + states).

Real-world stories & community impact

• In Minnesota, officials say the USDA told the state they must hold issuance files and told counties to stop approving new SNAP applications during the shutdown. FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul+1
• In Texas, reports say more than 3.4 million residents who rely on SNAP were notified that if the shutdown continues past late October, November payments may be halted. Houston Chronicle+1
• In Pennsylvania—nearly 2 million residents are directly impacted, and the state publicly stated on October 16 that November payments will not be made until federal funding returns. WITF

These are not isolated anecdotes—this is happening in multiple large-states at once.

Why this matters to small-business payment processors (yes, you)

Since you’re in the business of helping small and mid-sized companies process payments (especially food retail), here are some implications:

• If SNAP benefits are delayed, customers might shift behaviors—reduced grocery spending, substitution to cheaper items, increased demand for emergency food assistance. That alters your merchants’ cash-flow and purchasing patterns.
• Merchants authorized to accept EBT/SNAP—if their renewal comes during a shutdown and the approval process stalls, they could temporarily lose ability to accept SNAP payments, causing customer frustration and possibly reputational damage.
• You may want to proactively train your merchant clients on messaging: e.g., “EBT loads delayed? We’re working on it—check signage and your state agency’s site.”
• If you’re offering website design or working capital programs for grocers (as you do at Velocity Merchant Services), this is a moment to extend advisory services: help merchants plan inventory, anticipate demand swings, and defend cash-flow when benefits glitch.
• From a solidarity and branding standpoint: you’re a business that “Believes in Small Business.” Helping merchants navigate this uncertainty strengthens that brand promise.

My recommended messaging for your blog reader-audience

When you publish this on your website, consider these tone and content pieces:

• Use a friendly, credible voice—you’re talking to small business owners, store managers, or even households using your processing infrastructure.
• Lead with clarity, urgency, but no panic. “Yes, this matters; yes, there are risks—but here’s what to do.”
• Provide links to official resources (state SNAP pages, USDA/FNS, advocacy groups) so readers can verify for themselves.
• Include a call-to-action for merchants: e.g., “Check your EBT merchant authorization date; contact your processor if renewal falls in November.”
• Include a call-to-action for households: e.g., “Check your benefit balance early; budget for November; if you hit trouble, contact your local food bank.”
• Embed the table (above) so your audience can quickly scan their state’s status.
• Consider adding a sidebar or highlight box for “What this means for Illinois merchants/households” (since your company is in Illinois).

Final thoughts

This is one of those moments where policy, funding mechanics, business operations, and community welfare collide. A federal shutdown might sound distant, but when 42 million people rely on SNAP benefits every month, the ripple effects are immediate. Delayed benefits mean delayed grocery spending, fewer sales for merchants, more pressure on community food‐banks—and more stress for households already walking tightropes.

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