LOGAN — With the federal government officially reopened, Utah has announced it will issue full November benefits to all customers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The deposits are expected to be completed by Nov. 15.
Officials with the Utah Department of Workforce Services said customers who normally receive their benefits on the 5th or 11th of the month—funds that were delayed due to the government shutdown—will see their deposit starting Thursday, Nov. 14. Customers scheduled for the 15th will receive their deposit as normally scheduled.
“SNAP is a lifeline for many families and now that federal funding has resumed we can get people the help they need,” said Becky Wickstrom, Workforce Services public information officer.
SNAP is a 100% federally funded program that supports approximately 86,000 households in Utah each month. The state’s ability to quickly restore the full payments comes after a resolution to the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history was passed and signed by President Donald Trump late Wednesday.
Wickstrom urged customers to take steps to protect their benefits from theft by locking spending on their EBT card using the free Connect EBT mobile app.
The restoration of federal benefits follows weeks of uncertainty that put immense pressure on local charities. In response, Gov. Spencer Cox’s office authorized up to $4 million in emergency state funding for the Utah Food Bank.
While the federal benefits are being restored, Matt Whitaker, Executive Director of the Cache Community Food Pantry has emphasized that the financial strain on families will continue into the holiday season. He’s encouraged ongoing donations to help families who struggled through weeks without paychecks and face the difficult task of replenishing supplies.
The swift restoration of SNAP benefits is a welcome relief for those facing food insecurity, reinforcing the social safety net that was temporarily suspended by the political gridlock in Washington, D.C.