Updates
How will the government shutdown impact food benefits?
The United States federal government has been closed since the beginning of October.
Congress failed to pass a budget before its October 1st deadline, causing a lapse in funding for federal agencies. This is the result of partisan disagreements over spending priorities, including a fight over affordable healthcare. Without a new budget bill, federal agencies must shut down non-essential operations.
Latest update: On November 12th, Congress passed a bill to fund the government and end the shutdown. As federal agencies reopen, food benefits will return to normal operations.
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Jump to: SNAP (Basic Food) | Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) | School Meals | TEFAP
SNAP (Basic Food/EBT)
Each month, SNAP helps to cover food costs for over 900,000 people in Washington, with an average household benefit of $322.
Here’s the latest:
On November 12th, Congress passed a bill to fund the government and end the shutdown. Included in this bill is a guarantee of SNAP funding for the current fiscal year.
In Washington, SNAP benefits are being loaded in full as usual. Households can check their EBT balance by using the ebtEDGE or MyWABenefits apps, or by calling the phone number on the back of their EBT cards.
DSHS is processing new applications for food benefits that were submitted after Oct. 16, 2025, as quickly as possible. Washingtonians should keep applying, renewing and reporting any changes that might affect their benefits, which will help make sure they get any benefits they’re entitled to as soon as possible.
Previous Updates:
On November 7, the Supreme Court temporarily paused a lower court’s order that required the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November.
Before this ruling was issued, states across the country, including Washington, began loading November benefits onto EBT cards.
In Washington, SNAP benefits are loaded onto EBT cards between the 1st and 20th of each month. According to Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), households that normally receive their monthly benefits on November 1st to November 7th have already received their full SNAP benefits for the month. This includes more than 250,000 households across Washington.
The impacts of the Supreme Court ruling are still unclear. This type of situation has never happened before. It may take time before DSHS can share additional information about the impacts on families who have already received full November SNAP benefits.
Here’s what else we know:
According to the USDA, SNAP users will be able to spend October benefits in November without interruption. Your EBT card will still work at grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience store, farmers markets, and other retailers that accept EBT.
When the government reopens, any missed payments will be issued retroactively.
The SNAP application remains open, as do local DSHS offices. If you believe that you are eligible for SNAP, you should still apply for the program during the government shutdown. Learn more about SNAP eligibility here.
Despite the government shutdown, changes to SNAP eligibility that were passed by Congress in July will still go into effect on November 1. This is separate from the government shutdown. Learn more about these changes here.
Note: In Washington state, Basic Food includes both the federal SNAP program and the state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP) for eligible non-citizens. Once SNAP benefits resume, guidance for FAP participants may differ.
Follow the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) webpage for official communication about SNAP benefits.
Need additional help with food while the government is closed?
Are you impacted by the government shutdown? Your voice matters.
Get involved in the fight for SNAP. Contact the USDA and your members of Congress and tell them: SNAP benefits must be paid on time and in full. Sharing your SNAP story allows advocates and government representatives to understand the true impact of this program.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Each month, WIC supports over 212,000 Washington women and their children under 5. Without WIC benefits, these families will be unable to purchase the baby formula and foods required to meet their basic needs.
Federal funding has ensured WIC benefits will continue in Washington through early December.
WIC remains open, and recipients should continue to use their benefits, attend appointments, and access services as usual.
Due to the federal shutdown, some WIC clinics may temporarily close, but many will remain open. You can call your local WIC office or check their website to see if they are open.
Follow the Department of Health website for official updates about WIC benefits.
The National School Lunch & School Breakfast Programs
The programs that serve meals to kids at school will continue to operate as normal. Schools will continue to serve meals to students, and the cost to families will not change.
Based on the way that school meal programs are funded by the government, they will be able to operate as normal during a federal shutdown much longer than other programs like SNAP or WIC.
It is unlikely that the government shutdown lasts long enough to impact school meal programs.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) helps food banks keep their shelves stocked by providing bulk shipments of food paid for by the federal government.
TEFAP orders placed by food banks prior to the government shutdown will be shipped as usual.
During the government shutdown, food banks will not be able to place additional TEFAP orders. Depending on the length of the shutdown, this could lead to lower-than-normal amounts of food available at food banks and pantries.