Gov. Patrick Morrisey said SNAP recipients should be receiving their benefits on Thursday or Friday now that Congress voted to end the federal government shutdown Wednesday night. (Getty Images)
West Virginia’s food stamp recipients will have their full November benefits on their cards either today or first thing Friday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Thursday.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, helps feed about 275,000 — or one in six — West Virginia residents. Benefits for November have been delayed since Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown.
Morrisey’s announcement comes after Congress approved legislation reopening the federal government, ending the longest federal government shutdown in United States history. Trump signed the bill into law Wednesday evening.
During the delay, the state of West Virginia contributed about $13 million to food banks in the state as the state’s charitable food network saw an increased demand. Morrisey also activated the West Virginia National Guard to assist in food distribution and other efforts.
“We’ve been involved helping every West Virginian in need of it to make sure no one goes hungry,” Morrisey said. “We had a system where no one goes hungry. That matters in West Virginia. I want to thank everyone involved for the successful effort over the last 13 days.”
Morrisey made the announcement while speaking at the Governor’s Energy Summit in Charleston.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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