Will food stamps go out in November? The federal government has said it will partially fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions of Americans after two courts determined that a rainy day fund should be used for the cause.
There was confusion, however, when, after the announcement, President Donald Trump said no benefits would go out until the longest government shutdown in U.S. history ends. The White House clarified that partial payments will be sent this month, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued the reduced benefits amounts that people can expect.
About 42 million people rely on the program to help with food costs, including more than 380,000 in Mississippi.
Here’s what we know on the latest updates to when SNAP benefits could be issued, who gets them in Mississippi and which areas could be the hardest hit.
What is SNAP?
SNAP, often called food stamps, is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps low-income families get food.
Why haven’t November SNAP benefits been issued?
The federal government shut down on Oct. 1, 2025 because the U.S. Congress can’t agree on a budget to approve. So far, no votes to even temporarily fund the government have passed.
The USDA announced in October that it wouldn’t issue November SNAP benefits unless the government reopens.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” a notice on the USDA website read in part.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services announced on Friday, Oct. 24 that benefits won’t be issued in November because of the ongoing federal shutdown.
But on Friday, Oct. 31, two federal judges ruled that a contingency fund should be used to help Americans get groceries. Massachusetts federal Judge Indira Talwani and Rhode Island federal Judge John McConnell gave the government different options to use the rainy day money in separate cases.
On Monday, Nov. 3, the Trump administration said it would partially fund benefits. SNAP costs about $9 billion per month, and the available funds without transferring from other places only cover about $6 billion.
On Tuesday morning, a social media post from the president called that into question.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly ‘handed’ to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The White House clarified later in the day that partial benefits will be distributed and said the president was talking about future payments and protecting the backup fund, not ignoring the court order.
“The Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, for catastrophes, for war. And the president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future. That’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post.”
The fastest way to get full benefits to people, she said, is for the government to reopen.
When will SNAP payments go out in November?
Different states have different distribution dates.
Patrick Penn, a USDA official, told the court it could also take several days, weeks or months for states to revamp their systems and work to release the money.
“The administration is fully complying with the court order,” Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. “I just spoke to the president about it. (But) The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand, it’s going to take some time.”
What are the maximum SNAP benefits in November?
The USDA released maximum SNAP benefit amounts for November.
Can’t see the table above? Click here.
Who can get SNAP benefits in Mississippi?
Income requirements, after taxes, are set by the number of people in the household. Pay can’t exceed 130% of the poverty line, according to the USDA.
One person must bring home $1,305 per month or less. A family of five would need a monthly income below $3,138 to qualify.
To qualify in Mississippi, someone must be unemployed, work part-time or get low wages. Elderly and disabled people on low incomes and those who get TANF, SSI and other assistance can also be eligible.
How many people in Mississippi get SNAP?
About 385,000 people or 13% of the state got food stamps each month in 2024, according to the Center on Budget and Priorities.
About 39% of recipients have income at or below 50% of the poverty line. Another 14% have income that’s 51% to 100% of the poverty line, and about 47% have income that’s at or more than the poverty line, according to CBPP analysis for USDA data.
Mississippi SNAP benefits by the numbers
According to the Center on Budget and Priorities’ analysis of USDA data from 2024:
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1 in 8 Mississippi families get help from SNAP
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67% of Mississippi participants are in families that have kids
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More than 41% are in families with older or disabled adults
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More than 26% are in working families
What is the average monthly SNAP benefit per person in Mississippi?
On average, according to CBPP, each Mississippi household that gets SNAP benefits drew $183 per member a month in 2022. That came to about $6.01 per day per person.
Average monthly SNAP benefits, per the CBPP analysis looked like:
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Households with kids: $548
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Households with older adults: $109
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Household with disabled, non-elderly, residents: $231
Can I still use leftover or saved SNAP benefits?
Yes. Previously issued benefits are still available and EBT cards can be used.
MDHS recommends buying shelf-stable products.
How can I find a food bank near me?
MDHS provided links to three major food banks that help support communities across the Magnolia State:
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, Todd Spangler
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: SNAP benefits will be partially funded. How much? When will they go out?
