Arkansas residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can expect their full November payments to appear on their cards beginning late Thursday night, the state Department of Human Services said.
The department announced that the benefits, which were delayed by the recent federal government shutdown, will begin posting to cards around midnight. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued revised guidance earlier Thursday authorizing states to release the funds following the official end of the shutdown.
“We are pleased that our beneficiaries will soon receive this important food assistance because we know that families all across our state depend on SNAP to supplement their grocery budgets,” DHS Secretary Janet Mann said in a statement. “This has been difficult for our beneficiaries, and we are incredibly appreciative to our partners across the state who helped bridge the gap through food pantries, donation drives, and other assistance efforts.”
SNAP benefits are fully funded by the federal government. During the shutdown, the November issuance was temporarily delayed, and several DHS programs dependent on federal funding were suspended.
According to DHS, more than 70 of its employees were furloughed during the shutdown, including about half from the Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance. Those employees returned to work Thursday, but other programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Social Services Block Grant, and Community Service Block Grant initiatives remained paused pending confirmation that funding was restored.
DHS said it will continue to provide updates as additional federal program funding becomes available.
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3 KWOZ every weekday morning and afternoon. White River Now updates are also aired on weekday mornings on
93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5. Catch CBS News around the top of every hour on 1340 KBTA.
