Two federal judges have ruled the Trump Administration must continue to fund the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Without the ruling, the benefits would have ended Nov. 1.
On Oct. 26, the Associated Press reported the Trump administration would not tap a $5 billion contingency fund to keep the assistance flowing. According to AP, 42 million Americans—about 1 in 8—rely on SNAP to help with their food budgets. It is not clear when the debit cards SNAP recipients use will be reloaded, a process the AP reports can take one to two weeks.
According to Belmont Farmers’ Market Chair Hal Shubin, the state Department of Transitional Assistance records 697 Belmont households—1,087 residents—receiving SNAP benefits.
“The market averages 57 SNAP transactions each week,” Shubin said.
According to Shubin, the market offers $25 to bolster SNAP benefits. So far this season, that’s cost $28,000
“And there’s another $1,000 to $2,000 coming on Thursday,” he said.
The government shut down Oct. 1 after lawmakers in the two major parties failed to reach an agreement to continue funding the government. Healthcare policy is the key sticking point, with Democrats holding out to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. At the same time, Republicans argue that the subsidies can be negotiated after the shutdown ends. This is the second-longest government shutdown on record.
SNAP benefits have already been reduced in recent months, Shubin said.
“I talked to one woman who told me her benefits had been cut from a couple of hundred dollars to $23,” he said.
According to Mass.gov , on the same day SNAP benefits are suspended, changes to eligibility, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed earlier this year, go into effect. According to the state, that means more than 150,000 Bay State residents will see their SNAP benefits cut or eliminated.
The Belmont Farmers’ Market season ended Oct. 30; people who need SNAP or other food-assistance programs lost a critical source of first-hand information. The market does list winter farmers’ markets that accept SNAP benefits on its home page. But other benefits, such as the market’s efforts to boost SNAP benefits, will be gone.
“There is not a lot we can do for folks in the winter,” Shubin said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Shubin and others attended a rally on Beacon Hill to emphasize the importance of SNAP benefits.
According to USAfacts.org, about 1.1 million people in Massachusetts took monthly SNAP benefits in fiscal year 2024. That is about 15.6% of the population, slightly higher than the national average of 12.3%.
Published reports indicate the state was reluctant to tap into a contingency fund, with lawmakers saying there was no way to make up the shortfall created by the pending suspension of benefits. The United Way has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the budget gap.
Next week, several town and nonprofit groups will meet to discuss ways to help people in need more efficiently.
