The Alabama Department of Human Resources announced on November 13 that full SNAP benefits for November would be issued after several days of uncertainty tied to the federal shutdown.
The department stated that it had received updated guidance from federal officials, instructing states to begin releasing full monthly allotments, reversing the earlier directive that required reduced payments due to the funding lapse.
DHR is now sending the necessary files to its EBT vendor, allowing households whose issuance dates have already passed to receive their full benefits. At the same time, those scheduled for November 14 or later should see their regular amounts posted on their usual dates.
Governor Kay Ivey criticized the situation, saying SNAP recipients in Alabama “were some of the most impacted during the shutdown period.” She added that state and local governments in Alabama do not “operate in such a reckless way,” expressing hope that federal lawmakers “have learned from their failure to meet their responsibility to the people across the country.”
DHR Commissioner Nancy Buckner said the department is relieved to restore full benefits “in time to prepare for the upcoming holidays” and expressed gratitude to the food banks and community groups that stepped in while families waited for clarity.
“DHR is thrilled to be able to provide full benefits to SNAP recipients and help get food on the table for these Alabama families, especially in time to prepare for the upcoming holidays,” said Buckner. “The DHR SNAP team began processing files shortly after receiving the FNS notification; as a matter of fact, some clients should already see benefits on their cards,” said Buckner.
The disruption began after the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified states on November 8 that benefits would initially have to be issued at a reduced rate, roughly a 35 percent cut, due to the shutdown. Alabama implemented those instructions until receiving the new guidance that allowed the full amounts to be released. With the federal government now reopened, DHR confirmed that the temporary reduction has been lifted.
For households that rely on SNAP to purchase groceries, the restored benefits offer relief after a week of uncertainty. Recipients whose normal issuance dates fell earlier in the month are expected to receive their full amount as soon as the updated files are processed. Those scheduled for later in the month should see no change from their usual timing. DHR encouraged anyone who may be eligible for assistance to apply through their local county office.
