Once SNAP funding is partially restored to Kansas, the Department for Children and Families will determine how it will proceed.
On Monday, the Trump administration said it will use almost $5 billion previously set aside as a contingency after judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island issued similar rulings to that effect separately Friday. With benefits and overhead costing over $8 billion a month to handle, it’s not immediately clear how much money will be available for beneficiaries and how soon the benefits will be available on debit cards. ABC News says the US Department of Agriculture has already warned it could be a few weeks to a few months before the emergency funds are available. Another emergency fund held by USDA is not being used, according to the department, because it would create a shortfall in the USDA’s child nutrition program.
According to DCF, a federal court filing by USDA says it will send each state an official notice on the available SNAP benefits per household. Kansas has not received that notice as of late Monday.
The shutdown in SNAP benefits this past weekend is a direct connection to the federal government shutdown that’s lasted more than a month with no resolution in sight.
DCF has a special information page on its website, dcf.ks.gov, with updates on the SNAP situation including a frequently asked questions section and details about other emergency food assistance providers at the state level. Click here for the link.
KVOE will have an on-air update on United Way, Food Relief Rapid Response Team and Abundant Harvest operations with United Way of the Flint Hills Director Daphne Mertens at 7:20 am Thursday. A similar update on Bloom House Youth Services operations is part of KVOE’s Talk of Emporia at 11:06 am Friday.
