November SNAP benefits to be issued in full
by November 13, 2025 12:55 pm 301 views
The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is advising Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries that they should now expect to receive full benefit amounts for November, and that these funds will be disbursed to cards late Thursday and into Friday.
DHS has been preparing to make benefits available in line with guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week. USDA on Thursday (Nov. 13) issued a revised guidance directing states to issue full benefit amounts after the federal government shutdown formally came to an end.
DHS immediately began internal processes to allow for the distribution of these SNAP funds as soon as possible, and they are expected to be available beginning at midnight.
SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded, and the November issuance was delayed by the shutdown.
“We are pleased that our beneficiaries will soon receive this important food assistance because we know that families all across our state depend on SNAP to supplement their grocery budgets,” said DHS Secretary Janet Mann. “This has been difficult for our beneficiaries, and we are incredibly appreciative to our partners across the state who helped bridge the gap through food pantries, donation drives, and other assistance efforts.”
More than 70 DHS employees in various programs were furloughed because of the shutdown, and funds administered to community partners through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) programs were suspended, as were Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)/Work Pays cash assistance programs for newly approved beneficiaries.
About half of the furloughed DHS employees were within the Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance, and they returned to work on Thursday.
Other employees remained on furlough and the affected programs were still paused Thursday pending confirmation from federal partners that funds were restored. DHS will provide updates as they are available.