SNAP benefits paused DRAFT
Update: Federal shutdown ends
Following Congressional action, funding bills for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women Infants and Children (WIC) were signed late night, Wednesday, Nov. 13. Both anti-poverty, food programs were funded through September 2026. This action included an increase in funding to WIC which provides food assistance to pregnant people, moms and children, birth through age 5 regardless of their immigration status.
Lawsuit shares story of Minnesota family
Stephanie Stuart of Wright County rations her food to one meal a day so her three children can eat. She could easily be your neighbor and you wouldn’t know this about her. But now, everyone will know because as our client, Stephanie is sharing her story in a class action lawsuit filed by the Western Center on Law & Poverty and the Impact Fund, joined by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.
“It is unprecedented in American history, that food benefits have been discontinued. During previous shutdowns, SNAP benefits continued to go out to recipients, recognizing everyone’s basic human right to food. Funds were created and exist for emergencies like this.”
– Executive Director, Milo Mumgaard
As Legal Aid continues to monitor developments and options available to assist our clients, please read our news release.
Navigating food insecurity
Without benefit of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Due to the federal government shutdown, release of SNAP and MFIP food benefits in Minnesota has been uncertain. However, acting on USDA orders issued Friday, Nov. 7, Minnesota released full benefits to SNAP recipients Saturday, Nov. 8.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid has joined u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://mylegalaid.org/news-stories/legal-aid-sues-tells-government-to-feed-americans/u0022u003ea class action lawsuitu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e filed by u003cstrongu003eWestern Center on Law u0026amp; Povertyu003c/strongu003e and theu003cstrongu003e Impact Fundu003c/strongu003e, asking the court to keep Americans fed through continued distribution of SNAP benefits. The lawsuit includes a declaration describing the adverse impact on our client Stephanie Stuart, a SNAP recipient with three children.
Spend your benefits. Get the food you need.
u003ca href=u0022https://dcyf.mn.gov/federal-shutdownu0022u003eThe Minnesota Department of Children Youth and Familiesu003c/au003e says recipients are being targeted with a false promise of SNAP funding sources.rnrnu003cstrongu003eWhat to look out for?u003c/strongu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eFake messages or calls asking for your EBT card number, PIN, or personal details.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePromises to speed up or release your benefits for a fee.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eLinks in texts or emails that ask you to log in or update your information.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
To find food sources or to take action steps:rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eCall the Minnesota Food Helpline: u003cstrongu003e1-888-711-1151, u003c/strongu003eMonday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisit the u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hungersolutions.org/find-help/u0022u003eFood Group interactive mapu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisit u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://dcyf.mn.gov/federal-shutdownu0022u003eMN – DCYF websiteu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisit u003ca href=u0022https://www.lawhelpmn.org/self-help-library/fact-sheet/how-does-government-shutdown-affect-meu0022u003eu003cstrongu003eLawHelpMNu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e.u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eVisit u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://mylegalaid.org/u0022u003eMid-Minnesota Legal Aidu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
To back our litigation efforts on behalf of clients like Stephanie, consider a u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://igfn.us/form/-taJjAu0022u003edonationu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid.