BOISE — Due to the federal government shutdown, the Department of Health and Welfare will be issuing February benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Sunday, Jan. 20.
Letters were mailed out today for SNAP recipients regarding the early issuance. Households that have completed their re-evaulation process after January 15 will received them on the regular February issuance date.
“Department is continuing to accept and process food stamp applications normally so we don’t anticipate any delays in those newly eligible families," said public information manager for the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Niki Forbing-Orr.
The Department of Health and Welfare estimates 68,000 households utilize the snap program, which is roughly 159,000 people in the state of Idaho.
"Recipients that do receive their February benefits in January won’t receive another issuance in February, so there’s going to be a length of time between their next issuance in march,” said Forbing-Orr.
That length of time could be nearly 50 days. Since the Idaho legislature passed legislation back in 2014 requiring the department to stagger food stamp distribution, some recipients might not receive their next allowance until March 10.
Forbing-Orr says the department has not received any guidance yet for the issuance of March benefits.
If recipients have questions about the early issuance or SNAP benefits in general, they can call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 in Idaho or the Self-Reliance call center at 1-877-456-1233.
