The U.S. Department of Agriculture paused new November SNAP benefit distributions nationwide as of November 1 during the federal shutdown.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission confirmed that no November SNAP benefits had been issued yet.
Federal courts have ordered the USDA to access emergency funding sources, but state agencies are still waiting for implementation guidance and payment timing.
Recipients are advised to check their EBT balances regularly and monitor updates from Texas HHS.
What Still Works Right Now
Several assistance programs continue operating normally despite the SNAP disruption.
• WIC, TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP remain active in Texas.
• Any money already loaded on EBT cards still works normally.
• Only the new November benefit load is paused. If nothing posts, balances may eventually reach zero until benefits resume.
Scale and Context
SNAP currently supports about 42 million Americans nationwide.
At the same time, grocery prices remain significantly higher than recent historical levels. Food costs are estimated to be 25 to 30 percent higher than 2019 prices, meaning even a temporary interruption in benefit distribution can have major impacts for households relying on the program.
What Recipients Should Do
• Check the Texas Health and Human Services shutdown update portal or your case account for official notices.
• If food assistance is needed immediately, residents can use the Feeding Texas or North Texas Food Bank partner location maps to find nearby distribution sites in Collin County and surrounding areas.
• When benefits resume, SNAP-approved retailers can be found using the USDA SNAP retailer locator.
Ongoing Updates
The situation remains fluid as the USDA, federal courts, and state agencies finalize how November payments will be distributed.
The Princeton Journal will continue monitoring federal and state updates affecting SNAP recipients.
Media Note:
A referenced video clip from CBS News is used under Fair Use for news reporting and commentary.
Source:
“John Thune gives fiery speech while objecting to Democratic bill to fund SNAP, WIC.” CBS News YouTube, October 2025.
