The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) expects to process full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments by Friday morning (today). Approximately 600,000 households should see the full benefit amount loaded on their EBT cards. The development comes following the U.S. House and U.S. Senate resolution to end the federal government shutdown announced late Wednesday evening, and subsequent guidance from the USDA on Thursday to states to issue full benefits.
“As soon as we received authorization from the federal government, we immediately began working to get benefits out to the nearly 1.4 million people who depend on SNAP to keep food on the table,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “I am thankful that we will be able to make food benefits available on Friday, and to our team for their unwavering commitment to fight hunger.”
Since the beginning of October, there has been uncertainty around issuance of SNAP benefits across the country including quickly changing guidance from the USDA and lawsuits challenging the legality of not utilizing federal contingency funds to maintain the issuance of SNAP benefits in November. North Carolina signed on to one of the lawsuits.
On Nov. 7, following initial guidance from the USDA, NCDHHS loaded partial November SNAP benefits at approximately 65 of the normal maximum allotment for over 586,000 households. Households that typically receive the maximum amount saw their benefits reduced by 35 percent, while those who normally receive less experienced even deeper reductions. Thousands of households received no benefits at all due to USDA’s SNAP benefit formula.
All North Carolina SNAP beneficiaries will now see their full November benefits on their cards by Friday. For some people, depending on the time of month they usually receive SNAP benefits, they will be getting November benefits early. SNAP participants will receive their December benefits on their usual schedule.
North Carolina SNAP beneficiaries should continue to check their balance on their EBT cards. Any benefits on your EBT card are available to use. Check your balance on the ebtEDGE app, at ebtEDGE.com, or by calling the number on the back of your card (1-888-622-7328).
If you or your family is in immediate need for food resources, please call 2-1-1 to be connected with local resources. You can also visit the NCDHHS website dedicated to food access to find a food pantry closest to you.
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