Families in WA could lose SNAP benefits amid shutdown. Here’s how to get help
Food benefits used by thousands of Washington households to help make ends meet might soon be a government shutdown casualty, officials said.
The state Department of Social and Health Services, or DSHS, said it “will not be able to issue food benefits after” Friday, Oct. 31, “if federal funding is not restored,” per an announcement by the agency.
Basic Food program benefits will be affected, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which used to be called food stamps.
Statewide, close to 930,000 people in 540,000-plus households received food benefits in September, DSHS told The Olympian by email.
“We understand the possibility of a delay in benefits is stressful and can be hard on families, and we share your concern,” the agency said in its Oct. 24 announcement. It said benefits will resume when a budget deal is reached.
The federal government shutdown started Oct. 1 and so far is the second-longest in U.S. history, behind the 2018-19 shutdown that lasted 35 days, The Olympian previously reported.
What is the Basic Food program in Washington?
Basic Food is the state’s food assistance program.
It includes SNAP, a federal program, plus the state-funded Food Assistance Program, which is for legal immigrants who aren’t SNAP-eligible due to their immigration status, DSHS said.
People qualify for food benefits based on factors including income, with funds placed on an EBT card to buy federally-approved food.
In 2024, an average of nearly 42 million people per month in the U.S. received SNAP benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The program faces changes under the federal H.R. 1 tax and spending bill passed earlier this year, The Olympian previously reported.
What should I do if I’m losing my food benefits?
DSHS noted it’s “a stressful time for many people and families. The costs for groceries and daily living expenses continue to be high,” per its statement.
The agency recommended reaching out to food banks and other groups that can provide support.
To find organizations to help, DSHS advised:
- Visiting 211.org or calling 211
- Exploring Washington Connection
- Trying the DSHS Division of Child Support’s Alternative Solutions database
- Checking out the Reduced Cost Services Guide
Meanwhile, if you still have funds on your EBT card in November, you’ll be able to use them. “Unused funds will continue to roll over into the next month and are only removed after 274 days without the EBT card being used,” per DSHS, which said stores will keep accepting EBT benefits.
Are other impacts expected?
People who rely on food benefits aren’t the only ones poised to feel the squeeze. Some DSHS employees may see their jobs affected, the agency said.
Workers whose roles are funded via SNAP “might be impacted beginning Nov. 4,” the agency said, adding that “if temporary employment actions take place, employees will be notified directly and provided with resources and information about health benefits and other pertinent details.”
The agency didn’t specify how many employees that applies to.
It added that, “these potential temporary employment impacts also mean that starting Tuesday, Nov. 4, DSHS Tribal outstations will not be staffed until the federal government reopens. Similarly, our agency’s mobile office teams will not operate from Nov. 4 until the” shutdown ends.
“All these potential changes will impact customer experience, likely with longer wait times in our call centers and offices,” DSHS said.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Families in WA could lose SNAP benefits amid shutdown. Here’s how to get help."
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