State Officials Work to Protect 1.4 Million SNAP Recipients as Uncertainty Looms

NORTH CAROLINA — As the federal government shutdown enters its second week, North Carolina officials are racing to minimize disruptions to critical food assistance programs that serve more than 1.4 million residents across the state.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that beneficiaries will continue receiving support through October, but the agency is awaiting federal guidance on what happens if the shutdown extends beyond that timeframe.

SNAP Benefits Protected for Now

North Carolinians who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as Food and Nutrition Services, will see no immediate interruption to their benefits. The program currently serves more than 700,000 households monthly, with four out of five participating families including either a child, senior, or an adult with a disability.

“Food and nutrition are foundational to good health and people should not have to worry about their families and communities going hungry,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “NCDHHS hopes for a quick resolution to the federal shutdown to ensure people in North Carolina are not at risk of losing critical food benefits.”

The agency is currently waiting for direction from the United States Department of Agriculture regarding the program’s status beyond October should the shutdown continue.

WIC Program Also Affected

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) faces similar uncertainty. The program serves approximately 262,000 women, infants, and children who rely on it for nutritious food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health care referrals.

“Poor access to nutrition is linked to poor health outcomes for infants and children,” said Yvonne Copeland, NCDHHS Director of the Division of Child and Family Wellbeing. “We hope there is progress in passing a federal spending plan to ensure WIC continues to provide crucial support to North Carolina families at a time-critical stage of early childhood development.”

State Coordinates Response

NCDHHS officials said they are working closely with local, state, and federal partners to navigate the evolving situation. The department is maintaining consistent communication with county agencies and federal officials to understand which programs may be designated as “exempt” from the shutdown.

The agency has committed to providing regular updates as new information becomes available from the federal government.

For more information on SNAP or WIC benefits and impacts from the federal shutdown, North Carolinians can visit www.ncdhhs.gov/fns.