SNAP, WIC to receive funding despite federal government shutdown
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Fri, 01/11/2019 - 4:23pm
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director Richard Whitley today announced that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) February payment will be issued at the end of January to ensure recipients are not affected by the federal shutdown.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will be funded through February. Both programs are government-based nutrition programs that aim to assist low-income households in purchasing groceries and maintaining balanced diets.
SNAP is the largest hunger safety net in the nation covering most households that need food assistance. WIC is a special kind of government assistance program that strives to provide pregnant women, infants and young children with the most basic nutrition they need to maintain healthy lifestyles.
“We are deeply concerned about the uncertainty these circumstances present to the individuals and families we serve and to the impact it will have on our community partners,” said Whitley. “DHHS is continuing conversations with the federal Food and Nutrition Agency within the United States Department of Agriculture and other community stakeholders as we work together to ensure participants receive the benefits for which they are eligible.”
SNAP Update
The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) will issue SNAP benefits on Jan. 20, rather than waiting until the regular issue date of Feb. 1, to ensure recipients will receive benefits they can use in February.
SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, serves approximately 225,000 Nevada households each month.
Typically, benefits are issued on the first of each month but, in this special case, benefits will be issued on Jan. 20. The February allotment will be automatically loaded onto SNAP recipients’ EBT cards on Jan. 20.
“This is not a bonus or extra benefit and the money should be allocated to last through the end of February,” said Steve Fisher, DWSS Administrator. "Recipients are encouraged to budget carefully to ensure their benefit can support them as intended through the end of February.”
For more information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other assistance programs administered by the DHHS Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, visit the website at https://dwss.nv.gov or contact Julie Balderson at JXBALDERSON@dwss.nv.gov.
WIC Update
To date, WIC has not been affected by the ongoing government shutdown and will be funded through February. In Nevada, there are 56,934 WIC participants.
For more information about WIC administered by the DHHS Division of Public and Behavioral Health, visit the website at http://dpbh.nv.gov/Programs/WIC/Women,_Infants___Children_(WIC)_-_Home/
Or contact Michelle Walker at mwalker@health.nv.gov.
- 000
- agency
- agriculture
- Behavioral Health
- benefit
- cards
- children
- community
- Community Partners
- Community,
- Division of Public and Behavioral Health
- families
- February
- Food
- funding
- Government
- Government shutdown
- Health
- Healthy
- home
- Hunger
- infants
- information
- money
- need
- Nevada
- News
- Nutrition
- NV
- program
- Programs
- public
- Safety
- Services
- Shutdown
- SNAP
- Support
- United States
- website
- WIC
- women
