Food Insecurity

The Trump administration has given states until next week to submit personal information about SNAP recipients — or risk losing federal funding for the program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is threatening to withhold money for food stamps from 20 states, including Connecticut and New York, for refusing to share personal information about recipients.

Funding for SNAP has been allocated, paused, reinstated, and canceled again multiple times, straining local food pantries and the state agencies that scrambled to lessen the impact on hungry residents.

Governor Ned Lamont said he’s instructed the state Department of Social Services to reload residents' EBT cards. The money is expected to be available next week.

Efforts to feed people who rely on federal food assistance in Connecticut are underway during interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). No new benefits will be available starting November 1, as the government shutdown continues.

As the federal government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are set to lapse, Long Island food banks prepare for a surge in demand heading into the holiday season.

Connecticut and New York are suing to stop the Trump administration from suspending SNAP payments on Nov. 1. They’re joining 20 other states and the District of Columbia.

Connecticut will spend $3 million to partially supplement federal food aid benefits for residents during the government shutdown.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for about 400,000 Connecticut residents are in jeopardy due to federal budget cuts and the federal government shutdown, according to state officials.

Connecticut has increased funding for food pantries in response to higher grocery prices and cuts to federal food assistance programs.