ATLANTA — Georgia families will receive partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits this month after new federal directives authorized states to release a portion of the funds despite the ongoing government shutdown.
The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) confirmed Sunday it will issue up to 65% of normal November SNAP benefits, following weekend guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The move ensures that households across the state will still receive limited assistance to help buy groceries, even as federal funding remains restricted.
Households whose distribution dates have already passed will receive their payments by Tuesday, November 11, while all others will receive benefits on their normal schedule for the rest of the month.
“This directive allows Georgia to continue supporting families who depend on this vital program,” DHS said in a statement.
Payments resume amid national uncertainty
The partial payment order came after an emergency U.S. Supreme Court ruling late Friday cleared the way for the Trump administration to limit benefits during the shutdown. States were directed Saturday to fund 65% of November benefits and to stop or undo any full payments that had already been processed.
While some states, including Kansas, Wisconsin, and Oregon, had already released full SNAP benefits before the reversal, Georgia had not yet distributed its November payments and is proceeding under the new guidance.
Protecting benefits
DHS is reminding recipients to lock their EBT cards between purchases to prevent unauthorized use. Cards can be managed through the ConnectEBT app on Android or Apple devices, or through the ConnectEBT website, where users can also check balances and transaction history.
