Nevada disperses partial SNAP benefits as program funding debate continues

Almost 200,000 households in Nevada received partial food assistance benefits Wednesday, four days after a lapse in federal funding delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit payments across the country.

Nevada officials said $29 million in SNAP benefits were transmitted to more than 196,000 eligible households, following updated guidance from the Department of Agriculture. The benefits had been paused as the program funding lapsed during the federal government shutdown, but a federal court order directed the Trump administration to issue partial payments.

Division of Social Services Administrator Robert Thompson said getting benefits onto recipients’ electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, cards “quickly is essential for Nevadans receiving SNAP.”

USDA guidance says SNAP recipients will receive up to 50 percent of their previous benefit amounts depending on household income, the division said in a Wednesday news release. Households with no income will receive half of their previously approved assistance amounts, while households with greater income will receive smaller percentages or even no benefit.

About 70 percent of the state’s SNAP-eligible households have some income, and about 13,900 previously approved households will not receive a partial SNAP benefit under current federal guidance, according to the release.

“While some projected it could take days or even weeks to adjust computer systems and recalculate hundreds of thousands of benefit amounts, our team — with the full support of Governor (Joe) Lombardo and his Cabinet — planned for this possibility and began the work before the federal government issued new guidance,” Thompson said in the release. “Thanks to the hard work and readiness of DSS staff, and the constant support from the Governor’s Office, Nevada completed the transition within hours, not days — ensuring SNAP recipients received their benefits without any additional delays that have been caused by the federal shutdown.”

State officials said benefits are usually staggered over the first 10 days of the month, but all benefits were issued Wednesday.

SNAP recipients should confirm their balances by visiting ebtEdge or calling 866-281-2443. Unspent SNAP benefits issued prior to the government shutdown remain available for use, state officials said.

Three Square President and CEO Beth Martino said the Southern Nevada food bank was encouraged by the partial release but called on the government to reopen and sought community help through donations and volunteers.

“Every day, we’re hearing from parents, seniors and federal workers who simply can’t afford groceries,” Martino said in a statement.

“Many were already living paycheck to paycheck, and this disruption has made a difficult situation even harder. We’re encouraged that some partial SNAP benefits have now been distributed, but for many families, it’s not enough and some will still receive nothing. That means more people are turning to food banks and pantries to get by.”

Caught in shutdown debate

The federal government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, entering its 36th full day on Wednesday.

The partial funding comes as the Republican governor and legislative Democrats debate how to address the funding lapse in a special legislative session and food banks brace for increased demand.

Senate Democrats said their proposal would establish a new state benefit program and allocate $45.5 million to fund the remaining 50 percent of SNAP enrollees’ benefits for November. It would also set aside $91 million to cover benefits for December, if necessary.

Lombardo said Monday that SNAP’s database is classified, making it difficult to determine who would be eligible for a state program. He also said it could take Nevada about six weeks to establish its own program.

A spokesperson for the governor did not specify how he may include the issue on a special session agenda.

“The governor remains committed to finding a solution to source SNAP beneficiaries, and other Nevadans impacted by the federal shutdown, to the extent allowable under state and federal law,” press secretary Josh Meny said in an email.

State officials previously said it costs the federal government about $90 million per month to fund SNAP in Nevada.

A bill to fund and open the federal government passed the House but has failed in the Senate several times since the shutdown began Oct. 1, the start of the federal fiscal year.

The bill has majority support in the Republican-controlled Senate but lacks the 60 votes needed to clear a filibuster.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., has voted to pass the bill and reopen the government, while Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., has voted against it.

Rosen reiterated her stance in a Tuesday call with reporters that Republicans needed to negotiate on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies before reopening the government.

Contact McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @mckenna_ross_ on X.