Some SNAP recipients still waiting on payments ahead of Thanksgiving

The month leading into the biggest food holiday of the year has been stressful for the 41.7 million Americans who rely on theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The final weeks before Thanksgiving have provided relief following the end of thelongest-ever government shutdown, but it has come to some in more of a trickle than a tidal wave.

Funding was fully restored to the program on Nov. 12 when the shutdown ended and federal monies were to be distributed by states within 24 hours, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)previously told USA TODAY.From there, it was up to the states.

There is no national distribution date for SNAP benefits, andpayment dates differ by state.Even within states, the dates vary by recipient, with some using Social Security numbers, last names, or case numbers to determine who receives money on which day of the month.

<p style=Adult Education Manager with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Maria Lopez, of Woodland Park, holds boxes of food as she awaits the next vehicle, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Leonie. The bank distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food to federal workers and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who have been affected by the government shutdown.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Asia Lester, a volunteer at Anderson Interfaith Ministriees in Anderson, helps distribute food in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. With SNAP benefits cancelled during the government shutdown, All Access Community Development Corporation, a Hackensack non-profit, is doing an early distributions of turkeys and other food. Joellen Green, Chief Operations Officer at All Access Community Development Corporation, hands a box of food to David Gregorea in the parking lot of the Majestic Elks Lodge on Nov. 4, 2025 in Hackensack, N.J. Jessica Hogan sits next to a neighborhood food pantry, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, that she set up outside of her home, at 422 Eventide Drive, in Murfreesboro. Hogan thinks no one should be going hungry and created the pantry to help those in need, especially during the time when people have lost SNAP benefits. Neighbors are contributing as well as receiving a variety of items from food, to toiletries, to clothes. A sign in her yard states there is no judgement and no questions regarding the pantry. Sherry Tillman and passenger Nellie Johnson, sit in their car near Sarah Ann Bannister, left, Director of Resource Development at Anderson Interfaith Ministries in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Food distribution started at 9 a.m. and Tillman got there at 6:30 a.m. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Kenneth Brown, left, gets help from volunteers Pat Field, center and Rick Norquist, from Arlington Community Services, with his food allotment Thursday November 6, 2025. The federal government shutdown is increasing demand at food pantries because many federal workers are not getting paychecks and the federal government cut back on SNAP benefits. One in five households in Arlington depends on SNAP to help put food on the table. Clients were picking up food at the pantry In Jacksonville, Fla., Thursday. With SNAP benefits cancelled during the government shutdown, All Access Community Development Corporation, a Hackensack non-profit, is doing an early distributions of turkeys and other food. Joellen Green, Chief Operations Officer at All Access Community Development Corporation, in the parking lot of the Majestic Elks Lodge. Taj Indian Restaurant and Bar offers free meals for those affected by the lapse in SNAP payments, taken on Nov. 4, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Dolly Fant, a volunteer for six years at Anderson Interfaith Ministries gets ready for a food distribution in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Dolly Fant, a volunteer for six years at Anderson Interfaith Ministries brings some of the carts of food for a 9 a.m. food distribution in Anderson S.C. Thursday, November 6, 2025. Many who normally receive SNAP benefits being cut line up at Anderson Interfaith Ministries for food. Willie's Copper Top serves as a soup kitchen on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Owsley County. Leeomi Smith rode into the Owsley County Food Place, a food bank that distributes boxes of food each Tuesday, in Booneville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025. Donal Dickens, Regional Branch Coordinator, Willamston Branch, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina helps set up before the food distribution at the Jockey Lot in Williamston, S.C. Friday, November 7, 2025. The event fed over 900 families. Sandwiches or “Snap Sandies” are offered to those who need them at The Goose in Oklahoma City on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. <p style=Kent Useary, 65, who lives on Detroit's east side, rides his scooter during a food distribution event at Jesus Tabernacle of Deliverance Ministries in Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Simone Matthew, a volunteer with Feeding South Florida, (L) hugs Tammy Norton, a Department of Treasury worker, as she stops to pickup essential food items on Oct. 28, 2025 in Dania Beach, Florida. As the government shutdown nears four weeks, Feeding South Florida launched a food distribution site for government employees who have been impacted. The organization handed out food items to approximately 250 families in need during the event. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, line up to receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Federal workers, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and air-traffic controllers, receive food parcels at Newark Liberty International Airport as the workers have been impacted by the government shutdown on Oct. 27, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. The morning event was organized by the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state's largest anti-hunger organization. The dozens of federal workers who attended the event received one box of nonperishable items, one premium 10-pound produce box, along with potatoes, spaghetti squash, and apples. Federal workers are set to miss their first full paycheck on Wednesday, October 29th, as the government shutdown continues. Betty Anne Gallagher a volunteer with Feeding South Florida, helps load essential food items into the vehicles of government workers on Oct. 28, 2025 in Dania Beach, Florida. As the government shutdown nears four weeks, Feeding South Florida launched a food distribution site for government employees who have been impacted. The organization handed out food items to approximately 250 families in need during the event. Employees of DMARC, Catholic Charities, and Food Bank of Iowa hold signs during a press conference on the loss of SNAP benefits during the government shutdown at DMARC headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Des Moines, Ia. Sparse shelves at Golden Harvest Food Bank are seen on Oct. 28, 2025 in Augusta, Ga. Golden Harvest Food Bank is facing shortages as the government shutdown puts SNAP benefits at risk. Working at a food bank in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2025. Because of the federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that federal food aid will not be distributed on Nov. 1. An assortment of food sits at the Food Bank for Larimer County in Fort Collins, Colo. on Oct. 28, 2025. Food Bank for Larimer County is feeling the pinch as the government shutdown stretches on, endangering SNAP benefits for 600,000 Coloradans.

Faith communities, nonprofits and volunteers step up amid the federal block of SNAP

Adult Education Manager with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Maria Lopez, of Woodland Park, holds boxes of food as she awaits the next vehicle, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Leonie. The bank distributed approximately 2,000 boxes of food tofederal workers and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients who have been affected by the government shutdown.

Even with full funding restored, complications were anticipated. Technical issues could arise for those who have already issued partial payments that now need to be rounded out, USDA official Patrick Penn previously told courts, adding that it would likely take statesdays, weeks or even monthsto reprogram their systems and work with contractors to enable partial payments.

That, paired with a backlog and normal, run-of-the-mill tech issues and human error, has resulted in holes in the pathwork system that some recipients have fallen through in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.

SNAP benefits continue to trickle in leading up to Thanksgiving

In Tennessee, at least 5,000 people were still missing benefits the week before Thanksgiving, Signe Anderson, Senior Director of Nutrition Advocacy at theTennessee Justice Center, told USA TODAY on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The state's Department of Human Services (DHS) originally said benefits would be issued by Nov. 20, but later removed that commitment from its website.

On Nov. 25, DHSshared a poston X, formerly Twitter, saying, "November SNAP delivery is in progress."

As of Nov. 25,the DHS website saidthose who only got partial payments earlier in the month would see the rest appear on EBT cards starting Monday, Nov. 17. Households that normally receive their benefits on the 18th, 19th, or 20th of the month will receive their benefits on those days, the website said, before noting that "some households may receive their full SNAP benefit payment on a different date than scheduled."

ANov. 17 press releasefrom DHS also said that "Households that have not yet received any November benefits should expect to receive their full benefit amount in the coming days," without further specifying a timeframe.

"The majority of SNAP customers in Tennessee received their remaining full SNAP benefits on or before November 20," DHS said in a statement to USA TODAY on Nov. 25.

A display on the National Mall, with the U.S. Capitol in the background, references Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following the longest U.S. government shutdown in U.S. history, in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 14, 2025.

In Mississippi, the majority of the state's roughly 350,000 SNAP beneficiaries were still waiting as of Nov. 20 due to technical issues with its payment system, theMississippi Free Press reported.

"It's our systems. We have 35 and 40-year-old systems that run COBOL," Mark Jones, chief communications officer at the Mississippi Department of Human Services, told the Free Press. Following guidance given before the shutdown ended, the state had already input 65% payments into the system, which posed issues when officials tried to issue full payments after a funding bill was reached.

DHS previously said that recipients who get their payments on Friday, Nov. 21, would receive the same 65% issued to those earlier in the month between Nov. 4-15, reported the Free Press. The remaining 35% would be paid out when the computer system is fixed, it said.

An updated Nov. 21 press release from the department said the issuance of remaining November SNAP benefits was "currently underway" and could be paid as early as the same day. Some communities online have reported continued issues after that, however.

"All benefits should be loaded to cards," Jones told USA TODAY in a Nov. 25 statement.

Up against a holiday shopping wire

People who rely on SNAP in some states may come up against the Thanksgiving shopping wire simply due to the timeline on which their states distribute benefits normally, meaning any additional delay or disruption may make families miss the holiday mark.

States like Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina issue benefits as late in the month as the 22nd or 23rd, giving officials and recipients alike little time to fix hiccups before the holiday. It's not likely that all payment delays are the result of the shutdown − technical errors do happen when it's business as usual, too.

New policies laid out in the "Big Beautiful Bill"as to who qualifies for SNAP have also gone into place, so additional paperwork or other administrative changes may also hold some people up.

Paired with a steep backlog that accumulated during the shutdown, some states have been releasing funds sporadically. Frustrated people have taken to social media sites like Reddit and Facebook, where members regularly update each other on the status of their payments.

A truck from the Sheboygan County Food Bank is loaded with boxes of cereal collected by Howards Grove students for donation, Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Howards Grove, Wis.

Multiple mentions of delays in Illinois, Louisiana, Colorado and Florida appeared across platforms, though none of the states' human services departments have reported significant roadblocks. In Illinois, benefits were expected to be fully paid by Nov. 20, while Florida's website said full payments occurred on Nov. 14. Advocates in Floridahave expressed concernthat the state's significant backlog will slow the process further.

The Florida Department of Children and Families reiterated the statement on its website when contacted by USA TODAY, saying, "As of 5 a.m. ET on November 14, 2025, all previously scheduled November SNAP benefits have been issued to eligible recipients. Recipients scheduled to receive November SNAP benefits after November 14 will receive their benefits on their normally scheduled issuance dates."

Louisiana and Colorado are among the states that provided less clear timelines, with Louisiana saying on Nov. 13 that payments would begin the following week and Colorado's DHS saying it would begin loading cards the same day.

USA TODAY reached out to DHS in Illinois, Louisiana, Colorado and Florida. USA TODAY also reached out to the USDA for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Some SNAP recipients still without payments ahead of Thanksgiving

byCosmopolite
in
November 25, 2025

Some SNAP recipients still waiting on payments ahead of Thanksgiving

The month leading into the biggest food holiday of the year has been stressful for the 41.7 million Americans who rely on...
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Rescuers find grandmother and 3 grandchildren who went missing on a hike in South Carolina

CLEVELAND, S.C. (AP) — Rescuers on Tuesday found a grandmother and three grandchildren who reported the prior evening that they had gotten lost while hiking in a South Carolina state park, prompting a massive search with drones, helicopters, off-road vehicles and dogs.

The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said the four had parked a vehicle near one trailhead at Caesars Head State Park in Cleveland but were discovered on a different trail altogether.

A helicopter evacuated them from rough terrain that was slickened further by rain, said Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis. The hikers had no apparent injuries and were being reunited with family, he said. Emergency responders were set to assess their health further.

"Everything has gone fine and everybody should have made their reunion up there," Lewis told reporters Tuesday.

A boy called 911 on Monday evening saying he and three family members had been lost for about three hours in the area of the state park, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

The sheriff's office identified the hikers as Tonda Michelin, 53; Melody Bangs, 14; Michael Lawton, 11; and Dale Moser, 9. Authorities have not said whether they live locally, or why the grandmother did not place the call.

During the 911 call, the child said his phone battery had almost run out but he was able to stay on the phone for 10 or 12 minutes, the sheriff said. The boy was coherent and knew what was going on, he said.

"We'll talk to the grandmother and kids and figure out what they might have done last night," Lewis said.

The search began Monday and at least 50 people from half a dozen agencies including the National Guard were involved.

Caesars Head State Park is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Greenville, South Carolina, and is a protected environment for rare animals and plants.

The hikers had parked near the start of the Ravens Cliff Falls trail, which is a 4-mile (5.6-kilometer) round trip, leading to Caesars Head, a dramatic granite overlook atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment that provides views of many waterfalls.

All the Caesars Head trails are rated as advanced and are in a wilderness setting, according to the website. The hikers were discovered on the Bill Kimball trail, which is aparticularly difficult hike.

"It's rough," Lewis said. "There's some trails there, some for more experienced hikers than others. Hurricane Helene turned over a bunch of trees that are still down there, and covered a lot of those trails up. There's some signs that are gone."

byCosmopolite
in
November 25, 2025

Rescuers find grandmother and 3 grandchildren who went missing on a hike in South Carolina

CLEVELAND, S.C. (AP) — Rescuers on Tuesday found a grandmother and three grandchildren who reported the prior evening tha...
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National parks 'America-first' pricing will have these visitors paying more

It's going to get much more expensive for international travelers to visit some of America's mostpopular national parks.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, "nonresidents without an annual pass will pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the most visited national parks, in addition to the standard entrance fee," the Department of Interior announced on Nov. 25, among other changes.

"These policiesensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support theNational Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a news release in line with anexecutive orderdesigned to "allow more Americans to visit national parks."

Here's what else national park visitors should know.

How much does it cost to visit national parks?

Not all national parks chargeentry fees. Those that do typically top out at $35 per private vehicle.

To cut down on costs, visitors can buy an annual pass. Pricing for those will stay flat for U.S. residents at $80. Residents purchasing annual passes throughRecreation.govwill be asked to enter their zip code online and to show a U.S.-government issued photo ID when using the pass. Individuals without such identification will be asked to upgrade to a nonresident annual pass, according to the Department of Interior, which noted that existing passes will continue to be honored until expiration.

Starting Jan. 1, annual passes will cost $250 for nonresidents. International travelers who opt out of annual passes will be subject to extra $100 per person fees at several bucket-list parks.

Revenue generated by the new pricing will be invested back into the parks for upgrades and improvements as well as essential maintenance.

From Acadia to Zion:What travelers should know about America's national parks

Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose shakes off water from Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park scan the area around Sprague Lake on Sept. 15 for wildlife. Sprague Lake is accessible to people who use mobility aids like wheelchairs. A bull elk rounds up a female cow during the fall rut in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Sarah Joaquin holds an elk antler to her head while Jake Kundert takes a photo at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk chomps grasses on a fall day in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bull elk chomps grasses on a fall day in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident bull moose walks through Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Changing aspen leaves are highlighted by fresh snow on the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Water drops off the face of a bull elk in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. Watched and photographed by human visitors, a resident elk walks near Sprague Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025. An young male elk known as a A bald eagle soars over Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 15, 2025.

Inspiring National Park wildlife: Moose, elk and bald eagles

Which national parks are impacted?

Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically different parks, but operate as one.

Visitors are asked to stay on boardwalks to not only protect themselves, but fragile thermal features of Yellowstone National Park.

National park fee-free days for 2026

Next year, only U.S. residents will be eligible for free park entry on "patriotic fee-free days." There will be more such days than in recent years, but on largely different dates.

  • President's Day: Feb. 16

  • Memorial Day: May 31

  • Flag Day/President Donald Trump's birthday: June 14

  • Independence Day weekend: July 3–5

  • 110th Birthday of the National Park Service: Aug. 25

  • Constitution Day: Sept. 17

  • Theodore Roosevelt's birthday: Oct. 27

  • Veterans Day: Nov. 11

What were the fee-free dates in 2025?

The sun sets at Grand Canyon National Park. The park is historically tied to 11 Native tribes. Only the Havasupai still live in the canyon.

Other national park changes

In addition to the pricing changes, the Department of Interior is rolling out new digital America the Beautiful passes for annual passholders,military,seniors,fourth gradersand visitors with disabilities. Those can be stored on mobile devices and linked to physical cards for user convenience.

Going forward, the passes will cover two motorcycles per pass, instead of the current one.

Also, both digital and physical passes will feature new artwork with "patriotic designs that honor America's landscapes, heritage and outdoor legacy," according to the Interior Department.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:National parks are about to get more expensive for foreign tourists

byCosmopolite
in
November 25, 2025

National parks 'America-first' pricing will have these visitors paying more

It's going to get much more expensive for international travelers to visit some of America's mostpopular national...
Read More

 

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