How soon will needy families in Southwest Florida see their food assistance restored now that the federal government shutdown has ended?
The U.S. House voted Nov. 12 on a funding package that ended the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
That means 42 million needy American families can hope their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefit payments will resume soon.
Recent court rulings have led to a lot of confusion, anger and frustration as families wait for the final word on when they will receive the federal food aid they rely on.
A Massachusetts federal judge on Nov. 10 blocked the Trump administration from forcing states to claw back any November SNAP payments that were made before the Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 7 that partial payments could be made.
More: SNAP benefits running out: Your neighbors in SWFL may feel the pain
At least 17 states had already released the full benefit amount over the weekend, according to research by the Food Research and Action Center.
That was not the case in Florida, where 2.9 million residents receive SNAP benefits.
All of that came after lots of back and forth between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the courts over whether the agency had to use reserve funds to make any payments at all, as it has in previous shutdowns.
Since Oct. 1, thousands of federal employees have been out of work with thousands more working without pay.
Lawmakers have been deadlocked over restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies to keep millions from being priced out of healthcare.
Recently eight Senate Democrats broke from the rest to agree on a deal to reopen the government until Jan. 30 and fund SNAP through September 2026 at higher levels.
Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, is also threatened, even with a recent emergency cash infusion in October.
Both programs, and others funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) such as the Emergency Food Assistance Program, school meals, and senior food boxes are running dry.
When will Florida SNAP benefit payments resume?
After the House vote Wednesday to approve the plan for the government to reopen, funds could be released to all 50 states and U.S. territories immediately to be distributed by state agencies.
The Florida Department of Children and Families in a message on the website urged SNAP recipients to continue to maintain eligibility by meeting all work-related activities and tasks. That includes job search training, supervised job search, and basic education, so they can receive benefits as quickly as possible once funding resumes.
What is SNAP, the former food stamp program?
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that provides assistance to low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and families with low incomes to help them buy nutritious food.
It grew out of the nearly century-old national food stamp program and was renamed in the 2008 farm bill. SNAP is part of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Florida SNAP benefits help low-income families buy healthy food.
While October payments were pre-funded, money ran out for November payments, leaving millions at risk of hunger.
Meanwhile, several retailers have offered help.
Grocery and retail deals for Florida SNAP recipients
Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets: Special offers
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Affordable Family Meal Deal (Nov. 5–30): A hearty meal for $14.99 (regularly $26.45) for Rewards members.
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Free delivery and no service fees for SNAP recipients (Nov. 1–30): Via DoorDash, to help stretch grocery budgets.
Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket parent company Southeastern Grocers, LLC and the SEG Gives Foundation is donating $100,000 to Feeding America.
Instacart: 50% off groceries
Instacart is offering SNAP recipients 50% off one grocery order. Any customer who placed an order in October using a SNAP/EBT card is eligible and will receive a personal discount code through email in the coming days, the company said. The code can be redeemed at any Instacart store that accepts SNAP payments.
DoorDash: Free delivery
DoorDash is waiving delivery fees on one order for SNAP recipients in November from selected stores, the company announced on Oct. 26. You must add a valid SNAP/EBT card to your DoorDash account before you make your purchase and then use the promo code SNAPDD at checkout. See the complete list of eligible stores:
Gopuff: 50% off groceries
SNAP recipients can get 50% off groceries through Gopuff, a delivery service that currently focuses on metro areas. The deal is available in two waves throughout November, $25 each, for use on SNAP-eligible items. To use it:
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Add a SNAP EBT card to your Gopuff account.
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Add SNAP-eligible groceries to cart.
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From Nov. 1-15: Use code SNAPRELIEF1 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery.
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From Nov. 16-30: Use code SNAPRELIEF2 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and free delivery.
Bobbie: Discounted infant formula
The baby formula company Bobbie is offering a discount on one of its main products for SNAP recipients.
SNAP-eligible customers can purchase one can of Bobbie’s organic infant formula for $14 plus $3.50 in shipping, or three cans for $42 plus $8.50 in shipping. One can of the formula typically retails for $24.99 at Target or $28 plus $7.50 in shipping on Bobbie’s website.
To redeem the offer, customers must upload their SNAP eligibility letter before checking out online here. Purchases cannot be made with EBT, and the offer is available only to new Bobbie customers.
Websites, apps and social media
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Feeding America: A searchable database of food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs and other resources.
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Foodfinder: A free app to help food-insecure people find local free food resources. Once it pinpoints your location, it automatically gives a list of nearby options, including addresses and directions. Apple | Google
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Nextdoor: A social media app that lets people in the same neighborhood interact. It allows neighbors to discuss what is happening directly around their homes and is often used by people seeking specific services, items, or resources. Apple | Google
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Plentiful: A free app that focuses on providing local resources for people experiencing food insecurity and connecting them to partnering resources, agencies and food banks in their area. Apple | Google or text “FOOD” to PANTRY (726-879) from any phone
There are also numerous “buy nothing” garage sale and buying/selling groups on Facebook where you can find people in your area rallying together to share everything from leftover formula and diapers to freshly made food. along with information about which schools or churches are running food programs.
Where can I get food help in Southwest Florida?
Harry Chapin Food Bank – harrychapinfoodbank.org
Midwest Food Bank – Midwestfoodbank.org/donate/donation-opportunities
Meals of Hope – mealsofhope.harnessgiving.org/donate
Salvation Army Collier – naples.salvationarmyflorida.org
Salvation Army Lee – fortmyers.salvationarmyflorida.org
St. Matthew’s House – stmatthewshouse.org
Community Cooperative –communitycooperative.com
There are several food assistance programs in Florida
Feeding Florida: A statewide network of local food banks that serves all 67 counties. Feeding Florida offers a searchable map to help you locate a food bank near you, such as:
Other charities like Halifax Urban Ministries load their van with supplies at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida in Daytona Beach, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
Farm Share: One of Florida’s largest independent food banks. Officials said they are setting up distribution sites across the state. Federal employees can visit any Farm Share facility to receive free, fresh, and nutritious food (with valid federal or military ID). SNAP and WIC recipients can use the Food Finder to locate local distribution events. You can find local food pantries here or install the app (Apple | Google)
211 United Way: Heart of Florida United Way offers a free 211 Information & Referral Line, available 24/7/365, where someone can help you find resources in your area. You can also search their site for local food and meal resources
SNAP families with pets: Where to find free, reduced pet food in Florida as government shutdown continues
How much money do SNAP recipients get?
In fiscal year 2025, the average monthly benefit per person in the SNAP program was $190.59, per USDA (about $6 a day). For households, the average monthly benefit was $356.41 in total.
However, the exact amount of money that each SNAP recipient gets per month depends on their income and household size, so it varies per person.
How many people are on SNAP benefits?
More than 42 million people across more than 22 million households relied on SNAP benefits every month during fiscal year 2025, according to the USDA. Children accounted for about 39% of the people who received the benefits, according to the USDA’s report on fiscal year 2023, its latest annual data.
About 2.98 million Floridians received SNAP during fiscal year 2024, about 12.7% of the state’s population. The national average is 12.3%.
In 2023, 55% of SNAP households with children included someone employed (28% of the total) and 61% also received some other form of assistance such as Social Security.
Can I still use the balance on my EBT card during the shutdown?
Yes, you still can use your existing SNAP benefits, which roll over every month if not used. You can check your EBT card’s balance at ebtEDGE.com or by calling 888-356-3281.
Contributing: Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY; Gray Rohrer, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: SWFL families hanging tight for SNAP benefits getting restored
