Following a federal court ruling ordering the Trump Administration to release 100 percent of November SNAP benefits nationwide, Governor Shapiro directed his Administration to move immediately to issue November benefits to Pennsylvanians.
SNAP benefits are being loaded onto Pennsylvanians’ EBT cards according to the typical monthly schedule followed by DHS, so Pennsylvanians who have not yet received their monthly benefit can access the food they need.
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that his Administration is taking quick action to immediately issue November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to Pennsylvanians who have missed a payment, consistent with a federal court’s ruling yesterday requiring the Trump Administration to release 100 percent of SNAP funds for all recipients nationwide.
As of Friday afternoon, those payments are already being processed and loaded onto Pennsylvanians’ electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards so families across the Commonwealth can buy the food they need. So far, approximately $100 million worth of benefits have been sent to Pennsylvania’s SNAP vendor — and benefits are actively being loaded onto EBT cards.
“No Pennsylvanian should go hungry because of federal inaction and Congressional Republicans’ failure to pass a budget,” said Governor Shapiro. “Despite the daily chaos and confusion from the Trump Administration around SNAP, my Administration is working quickly to get payments moving for nearly two million families, seniors, and children who rely on SNAP to help put food on the table. Our work is not done here: we will continue doing everything we can to protect access to food for Pennsylvanians.”
November 2025 SNAP benefits began being issued Friday morning, and benefits will continue to be loaded onto EBT cards over the next several days. SNAP recipients can check their EBT card balance with the ConnectEBT app or website, and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) strongly encourages SNAP recipients to use ConnectEBT to keep their card locked when the card isn’t in use to protect their benefits from skimming or theft.
SNAP benefits are issued to eligible Pennsylvanians over the first 10 business days of the month. As of Friday evening, the Shapiro Administration expects to have issued benefits to Pennsylvanians who would usually receive them during the first seven days of the month.
“I want to thank our food banks, food pantries, and every Pennsylvanian who has stepped up in some way to support our neighbors and communities. I am relieved we can issue November benefits, but there is still more work to do to ensure stability for December and beyond,” said DHS Secretary Val Arkoosh. “Republicans in Congress must work across the aisle to quickly reopen the government and protect food assistance and access to health care for the millions of people in Pennsylvania and around the country still at risk because of this continued inaction.”
In the last week, Governor Shapiro and his Administration have taken swift action to protect food access for Pennsylvanians impacted by the federal shutdown — signing a disaster declaration, directing $5 million in state funding to Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of food banks to support the two million residents who rely on the SNAP, and launching the SNAP Emergency Relief Fund, which has already raised more than $2 million in private donations to strengthen the Commonwealth’s charitable food network.
Governor Shapiro joined 24 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump Administration for unlawfully suspending SNAP payments and failing to use billions in Congressionally approved contingency funds available to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Across the Commonwealth, Governor Shapiro and his Administration are stepping up to shield Pennsylvanians from the fallout of the federal shutdown — supporting the Commonwealth’s charitable food system, keeping the heat on for working families, and delivering financial relief for families, seniors, and children.
About SNAP in Pennsylvania
Since its creation in 1964, SNAP has been fully funded by the federal government, with benefits administered by the states. Each month, SNAP provides more than $366 million in benefits to help nearly two million Pennsylvanians feed themselves and their families — including more than 713,000 children and 697,000 older adults. More than $4.3 billion in SNAP benefits were issued over the course of state FY2024-25. In total, roughly 42 million people in the U.S. receive SNAP benefits each month.
Beyond helping families put food on the table, the USDA estimates that every $1 billion in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 billion in economic activity through job retention and creation, income for farmers, and sales for food retailers.
It is unclear at this time how December benefits will be affected if the federal government does not reopen before the end of the month.
For immediate needs during the federal government shutdown, Pennsylvanians can use PA Navigate pa-navigate.org to help find resources. Local help is also available by calling 211 or visiting pa211.org. Pennsylvanians can also visit www.feedingpa.org to find local food banks and other food assistance programs.
For more information about the federal government shutdown and its effects on Pennsylvania, visit dhs.pa.gov/shutdownFAQs.