Last week, Bucks County officials met with nonprofit and human services partners to address the growing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program crisis caused by the ongoing federal government shutdown. More than 46,000 county residents were at risk of losing SNAP aid when federal food assistance funding was set to end.
A federal court has since ordered the government to use emergency funds to continue SNAP payments, but it remains unclear when benefits will resume or how much aid families will receive. SNAP assistance provides roughly $8.5 million each month to Bucks County families, underscoring how critical this program is to our community.
At the state level, Gov. Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania will allocate emergency funding to help food banks manage the crisis and support residents affected by the shutdown. While the state cannot directly issue SNAP payments — since those come from the federal government — these emergency measures will help food providers meet growing demand.
Locally, the Bucks County commissioners approved $200,000 in additional emergency support for providers to help bridge gaps in aid. The county has already advanced $5 million per month from reserve funds since September to keep essential human services programs operating.
Because Congress in Washington, D.C. failed to pass a federal budget, November SNAP payments cannot be issued until the shutdown ends and funds are released to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will notify SNAP recipients when payments can resume, and my office will share updates as soon as they become available.
To help families who may be struggling during this time, my office is collecting nonperishable food items and diapers for local food pantries. Donations can be dropped off at 3611 Green Lane, Bristol.
If you have questions or concerns about the federal government shutdown, please reach out to your federal representatives for additional information or updates:
Additional resources: