ALBANY, N.Y. — As the federal government shutdown drags on, leading to cuts in SNAP benefits for nearly three million people in New York State, the State Attorney General’s Office has a warning about businesses that are unlawfully refusing to accept SNAP payments.
For SNAP recipients, all remaining funds on their cards are still valid. AG Letitia James said her office sent cease-and-desist letters to some grocery stores that have denied customers the ability to pay for food with SNAP. She is encouraging anyone who has had a similar experience to report it here.
In the six-county Rochester region, more than 135,000 people rely on SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program. That includes one in seven people in Monroe County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has paused new SNAP payments since Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown. However, all SNAP-authorized businesses are still required to accept any remaining benefits.
The Trump administration says it plans to partially fund SNAP after multiple judges ruled that the government must use its emergency contingency funds rather than pause payments. However, it’s unclear when the money will actually show up on people’s cards and how much they’ll get. One judge had ruled that the administration must fully fund SNAP, but the U.S. Supreme Court blocked that court order on Friday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has directed state agencies to issue full federal SNAP benefits for November. Her office said in a statement that New Yorkers should have access to benefits starting Sunday.
How to get help if you need a meal
Food pantries across the region are stepping up to provide meals to people in need. Some in Rochester include the People’s Pantry, Saint Andrew’s Good Cupboard, and Trillium Health Food Pantry. In Ontario County, the Canandaigua Salvation Army is providing meals. In Wayne County, people can visit the Finger Lakes Action Pantry. News10NBC has a list of food pantries across the region. See the list here.
How to donate to fight food insecurity
Several food drives are happening in the Rochester area to address food insecurity now that full SNAP payments are on pause. You can see a list in this story.
Foodlink, the Rochester-based regional foodbank that supports meal programs across 10 counties, is accepting donations of money to help buy food. You can donate through Foodlink’s website here. In addition, Foodlink is teaming up with Wegmans for the “Check Out Hunger” campaign. Donations can be made at checkout. Learn more here.
More of News10NBC’s coverage
For weeks, News10NBC has covered how local food pantries have prepared for a pause to SNAP and are now stepping up. We’ve also spoken to local recipients about their worries. Here is some of our coverage:
In-depth look at how many people rely on SNAP across the Rochester region Some small businesses stepping up by hosting food drives and ‘take-what-you-need’ pantries How Community Action of Orleans and Genesee is preparing to meet demand of need for food Monroe County schools to hold food drive on Saturday as families face concerns over SNAP benefits Rochester Hope Food Pantry braces for surge in visitors as SNAP cuts loom Upstate NY businessman starts SNAP relief fund to help families impacted by potential benefit cuts Rochester SNAP recipient Marilyn ‘Tiny’ Diaz fears potential disruption to benefits Local school districts prepare food pantries in anticipation of families losing access to SNAP House of Mercy braces for influx of people in need as SNAP funding hangs in the balance Local food banks prepare for overwhelming demand as SNAP benefits hang in the balance Countdown until SNAP runs out: Small businesses express concerns Where to find help: Local resources available for families facing food insecurity due to government shutdown ‘It’s scary’: Local families worry about food assistance as government shutdown continuesNew York AG warns about businesses unlawfully refusing remaining SNAP benefits WHEC.com.
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