All Pennsylvania residents who receives SNAP benefits should be seeing the funds by the end of the week, according to the Pa. Department of Human Services.
The department announced on social media that it has restarted the process to issue the full November benefits payments to residents who get the Supplement Nutritional Assistance Program.
“I again want to extend my deepest gratitude to our food banks, food pantries, and every Pennsylvanian who showed the true meaning of community through this crisis,” DHS Sec. Val Arkoosh said in a statement. “I am relieved we can finally get these critical benefits out, and I urge those who are able to continue to support to our charitable food network as they stabilize and restock to continue their essential work.”
Benefits are being distributed and recipients should get them by the end of the week, officials said.
This announcement comes less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump signed the bill to reopen the federal government on Wednesday night.
Trump’s signature, which restores funding that has been frozen or halted for weeks, came shortly after the House voted 222-209 to send him the measure. Six Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting yes, and two Republicans joined most Democrats in voting no.
The Senate approved the same legislation Monday when eight Democrats peeled off and voted with Republicans to break a filibuster and end the shutdown.
The legislative package includes a “minibus” of three appropriations bills providing funding through next September and keeps the rest of the government open at current levels through Jan. 30.
It includes full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, which will keep the program afloat through September. More than 40 million Americans rely on SNAP. Some people told NBC News that they ran out of food as the shutdown cut off money for the program, and the Trump administration fought in the courts against having to shift money around to fully fund it for the month of November.
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