With the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that November SNAP benefits are temporarily on hold until federal funding is restored.
For the thousands of families, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities who rely on food assistance, this pause can create real stress and uncertainty. Here’s what’s happening and how to stay prepared.
What’s Happening
As of October 16, 2025, DHS confirmed that no new November SNAP payments will be issued until the shutdown ends and federal funds are released.
- This pause is directly tied to the lapse in federal funding that supports state-level benefits.
- October SNAP benefits have already been distributed as planned, but November benefits cannot be processed or issued while the shutdown continues.
- Starting November 1, 2025, new federal work, volunteer, or training requirements for certain SNAP recipients (ages 18–64 without dependent children) are still scheduled to take effect—adding another layer of change.
Why It Matters for the Communities We Serve
For many of the people we support—older adults, caregivers, and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD)—these benefits are a lifeline.
This disruption may lead to:
- Food insecurity – families having to stretch groceries, skip meals, or seek food pantries.
- Caregiver strain – managing limited budgets while trying to maintain consistent nutrition and stability.
- Confusion over requirements – navigating new work or volunteer expectations for benefit eligibility.
- Missed renewals – continuing responsibilities like reporting changes and recertifying benefits remain active even during the shutdown.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Check your status.
Log in to COMPASS or call your County Assistance Office (CAO) to review your current benefits and any notices. - Budget for delays.
Expect a temporary gap in assistance until the federal government reopens. If possible, shift grocery budgets or plan smaller trips. - Seek local food resources.
- Dial 211 for community food programs and emergency assistance.
- Visit Feeding Pennsylvania for your local food bank network.
- Explore PA Navigate for benefit navigation and support tools.
- Prepare for new requirements.
If someone you support is between 18 and 64 years old and doesn’t have dependents under 14, they may need to participate 20 hours per week in work, volunteer, or training activities starting November 1. - Stay connected with your care team.
At ACR, our team can help you stay connected with the right supports, plan around service disruptions, and coordinate with care teams to maintain stability. - Document everything.
If you’re told about benefit changes or delays, write down the date, name of the contact, and what was said. This helps resolve issues faster later.
Sources: dhs.pa.gov/SNAP | Pennsylvania SNAP benefits halted due to government shutdown – CBS Pittsburgh | November SNAP benefits will not go out in PA unless immediate action: Officials