ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — The government shutdown is causing issues with benefits.
In Tompkins County, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November will be delayed, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) won’t start until November 17.
The USDA issued a notice saying federal food aid won’t go out on Nov. 1. CBS News reports that the note “comes after the Trump administration said it would not tap roughly $5 billion in contingency funds to keep benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP, flowing into November. That program helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.”
Both programs could see longer delays if the shutdown drags on; it began on Oct. 1. Tompkins County has more information about SNAP and HEAP here.
