SNAP delays hit Indiana. Partial payments coming

Indiana families who rely on federal food aid will face delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits this month.

On Wednesday — when SNAP distribution would typically begin — the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration said it is reviewing federal guidance on issuing partial benefits.

"FSSA is diligently working to get SNAP benefits to recipients in compliance with USDA guidance,” the agency said in a statement on its website. “An issuance schedule will be shared as soon as it is available.”

As the government shutdown stretches into the longest in U.S. history, the White House reversed a move to halt food assistance after a federal judge ordered the government to continue funding the program on an emergency basis.

Federal officials now say states may issue partial SNAP payments while federal funding remains stalled.

SNAP, created during the Great Depression, provides assistance to more than 570,000 Hoosiers — including nearly 150,000 people in Central Indiana.

The plan to issue partial payments offers some relief, but state agencies are still determining how to implement them — an unprecedented process

“There’s not a process to do this, and so it could be cumbersome,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, a nonprofit network of 11 food banks serving all 92 counties. “It could take some time for states to figure out.”

Bryant and other food leaders say further delays could have devastating consequences for families across Indiana — especially since full SNAP benefits rarely cover all of their monthly food needs.

“We fully expect to continue seeing families in need of food assistance, even with the benefits going out,” Bryant said. “Simply because there’s just not enough there.”

“It’s certain that a lot of Hoosiers are going to miss or have a delayed, even partial November SNAP payment until they can work out the logistics of this,” said Fred Glass, CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, which operates a network of about 300 partner agencies across 21 counties.

Food banks across the state are stepping up to fill the gap left by delayed and reduced benefits — but they say their resources can only stretch so far. Leaders throughout the state are seeing more families stocking up in case of further delays. 

In Indiana, benefits typically post between the 5th and the 23rd of each month, based on the first letter of a recipient’s last name.

In Indianapolis, the city issued emergency funding for food assistance, offering free food distribution events throughout November. Meals, produce and other resources will be available. No sign-up or ID is required. Details are available on the city’s website.

As local and state leaders attempt to offer help, they face mixed messages from President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Trump appeared to walk back the plan to provide partial benefits, saying no payments would be made until “the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!”

Despite the president’s remarks, White House officials said partial payments will still be sent in compliance.

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org.