U.S. Government Shutdown Resources for Impacted Survivors

DomesticShelters.org is providing resources, information and updates to assist survivors impacted by the federal shutdown. Here you’ll find information about state-by-state SNAP responses, community support, national resources, and significant situational updates. Please check back regularly for updates.

SNAP Benefits & Food Assistance

Due to the on-going federal shutdown, SNAP benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1, 2025. These benefits support people from all walks of life and in a wide range of situations, including many domestic violence survivors and their children. About 12.3 percent of the American population—41.7 million people—used the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2024.

Key SNAP Issues to Know

SNAP benefits are issued by individual states, so some people will miss benefits starting on Saturday, Nov. 1, while others may be impacted later in the month. Some areas are taking measures to help their residents cover lost benefits, such as San Francisco. It’s important to check your local government and understand how your benefits will be impacted. 

In some places, there are concerns that existing SNAP benefits may not be accessible via EBT cards starting in November. That means existing benefits might not be available on EBT cards after Oct. 31, so people in those areas are being encouraged to use their remaining benefits while available, before Nov. 1 or carefully budget. However, this is not all areas, so again, it’s vital to check with your state, county, and city.

EBT cards can be shut down due to inactivity and SNAP benefits can expire, so it’s recommended that you keep your account current and continue to apply or renew your benefit application as needed to sustain help when the shutdown ends.

State-Specific SNAP Benefits Information

Listed here are states that will be continuing to fund SNAP benefits or offering off-setting benefit programs designed to support the public while benefits are unavailable. Please note states may not be providing SNAP payments but have increased funding to food pantries, food banks and nonprofit organizations assisting with food insecurity.

States are listed alphabetically.

Arizona has directed funds towards supporting food banks, however the state has also started a new program called Food Bucks Now. Food Bucks Now is a temporary program for any Arizona SNAP participants with an active EBT card. The program provides $30 in credits for SNAP-eligible food purchases at participating community grocery stores, farmers’ markets and food stands, which can be found here through the Double Up Arizona food assistance program.

SNAP recipients should take their EBT card with them to a participating retailer, where staff on site will assist issuing Food Bucks Now vouchers.  

Delaware, through declaring a state of emergency, will provide SNAP benefits on a weekly basis through the month of November while the U.S. government remains shut down. SNAP payments will be loaded onto EBT cards each week. The Delaware Division of Social Services (DSS) also warns that many SNAP recipients still need to complete their routine recertification by Nov. 3, regardless of the shutdown, to avoid benefits interruptions. Those in Delaware can learn more at the Delaware SNAP Alert site.

Hawaii has opened applications for a temporary Hawai’i Relief Program designed to aid families with children pay for housing and utilities to help offset the loss of SNAP payments. 

The Relief Program can provide:

• One-time housing deposit, to a maximum of $6,000
• One-time utility deposit, up to $3,000 for each utility source (electricity, water, gas)
• Housing payments, to the maximum of $6,000, for up to four months
• Utility payments, to the maximum of $2,000, for up to four months

Not all SNAP participants are eligible for the Hawai’i Relief Program due to its funding source; only families with children are eligible to apply for the program. Non-eligible SNAP recipients can work with the SNAP Outreach Providers that Hawaii’s Department of Human Services contracts with to provide referrals to community food resources.

Louisiana also declared a state of emergency and approved the use of state funds to provide SNAP benefits for Louisiana residents. Details are still in process as the state’s temporary food assistance program is created, however officials have said senior, disabled, and child SNAP recipients will be prioritized to receive payments sometime between Nov. 1–4. Benefits will be distributed to EBT cards. 

New Mexico announced it will use $30 million of state funding to provide SNAP benefits, but the partial payment is only expected to last SNAP recipients for about the first ten days of the month. This translates into about 30 percent of the full November SNAP payment, though senior and disabled recipients will receive at least $100. Payments will be loaded onto EBT cards on Nov. 1. 

Rhode Island will be using funding from its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to provide partial SNAP payments to families with children and dependents, the only ones eligible for those funds. SNAP recipients without children or dependents will not receive payments. Eligible families will receive about 25 percent of their normal benefits loaded onto their EBT cards on Nov. 1. Another 25 percent payment will be issued on Nov. 15 if the federal government remains shut down. 

Vermont approved funds to provide the state’s SNAP recipients with continued benefits for the first half of November. These funds will be released to EBT cards “on or before Nov. 7.” Recognizing the challenges brought by the week-long delay in payment accessibility, Vermont is also providing a grant to the Vermont Food Bank to help meet increased need. The Vermont Emergency Board is set to reconvene by Nov. 13 to consider further actions if the federal shutdown continues.

Virginia has established Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) by declaring a state of emergency. If the federal shutdown hasn’t ended by Nov. 1, VENA will start on Nov. 3. VENA will be funded weekly instead of monthly, for as long as the state can sustain the funding. Benefits will be funded directly to EBT cards for those who already receive SNAP benefits.

VENA funds will be distributed in three groups, with the first group receiving benefits on Nov. 3, the second on Nov. 5, and the last on Nov. 7. The first two groups will receive delayed benefits (they currently are distributed one to three days later than usual). To assist with challenges this could create, the state is also directing extra funding to food banks across the state. Learn more as information becomes available at the Virginia Department of Social Services website.

How to Find Community Aid and Support

Many online networks of communities are finding ways to support each other. “Grocery buddies” are emerging as one way to offer or receive help. Neighbors post to social media groups (found on platforms like Facebook) or other public forums (like Reddit or NextDoor) both asking and offering help. They connect privately in direct messages and find a grocery solution that works for both sides. 

Check your local community groups on Facebook, Reddit, NextDoor and other social media for grocery buddies and other forms of community aid. You can search the social media’s “groups” (sometimes called “communities”) for “grocery buddy,” “food help,” “meal help” or other related terms.

And remember: it’s okay to ask for help. One in eight Americans use SNAP–you aren’t alone right now.

In many areas, local restaurants are offering free meals to children and seniors and/or discounts to adult SNAP-receipients. Check social media for local establishments and take your EBT card along for verification.

National Businesses Offering Food Assistance

Some large businesses are offering waived fees, store credits, and other discounts for SNAP recipients during November.

Free Gopuff Credits

During November, food delivery service Gopuff is offering SNAP recipients two $25 credits and free delivery to use on SNAP-eligible items. The first credit is available for Nov. 1–15, the second credit is available from Nov. 16–30. Here’s how to receive and use the Gopuff credits:

1. Go to your Gopuff account and add your SNAP EBT card, if it’s not already added.
2. Shop for SNAP-eligible items through the Gopuff site or app.
3. From Nov. 1–15 use the code SNAPRELIEF1 for $25 in credit and free delivery.
4. From Nov. 16–30 use the code SNAPRELIEF2 for $25 in credit and free delivery.

Each code is valid until 200,000 codes are redeemed. 

DoorDash Waiving Fees

Food delivery service DoorDash is waving service and delivery fees on one order for approximately 300,000 SNAP recipients at multiple shopping locations including:

• Giant Eagle
• Dollar General
• Wegmans
• Sprouts
• Schnucks
• Ahold Delhaize brands
• Hy-Vee

Connect your EBT card to your DoorDash account to redeem.

Kroger

Grocery chain Kroger offers expanded discounts to members of its free Verified Savings program, which you can sign up for online. 

Tools to Find Local Resources

Many states have temporarily increased funding and allocated other resources to support food banks, pantries and other nonprofits that help with food insecurity. Here are tools to help find your local resources.

• FoodFinder Food Pantry Locator
• Feeding America’s Find Your Local Food Bank
• Mutual Aid Hub and Community Support Finder (includes food resources like community fridges and food pantries)
• Freedge’s Community Fridge Finder
• Benefits CheckUp (from the National Council on Aging, this tool helps seniors and those with disabilities learn what benefits programs are available in their communities, including food assistance)