PA DHS announced that PA SNAP recipients will not receive benefits that were scheduled to be paid in November due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. As a result, more than 160,000 people in Allegheny County will not receive payments, of which more than 50,000 are children. Read more for county food agencies and resources.

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On its website, the state Department of Human Services (DHS) provided an update on October 17 that SNAP benefits cannot be paid in November as a result of the failure to pass a federal budget that caused the shutdown. 

Benefits will not be paid until the shutdown ends and funds are released to the state, according to the DHS. SNAP recipients will be notified when payments can resume. The department provided links to two resources for those in need of immediate food assistance – PA Navigate and Feeding Pennsylvania – or recommended calling 211.

Those receiving SNAP benefits should continue to complete renewals and report changes to income, contact information, or the number of people living in the household. State offices and phone lines remain open and SNAP recipients can still visit and call state offices for help.

Additionally, changes mandated by the federal government regarding SNAP benefits will also take effect on Monday, November 1. To keep or become eligible for benefits, people will have to meet work requirements that include working, volunteering, or participating in an education or training program for at least 20 hours per week and report to the DHS that they are meeting these work requirements.

Residents in the Pittsburgh region who are in need of immediate food assistance can access the following resources:

• Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211
• PA Navigate
• Feeding Pennsylvania
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
• Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
• United Way helpline
• East End Cooperative Ministry
• Just Harvest
• Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc.

Resources in neighboring counties include:

• Indiana County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Indiana)
• Westmoreland Food Bank (Westmoreland)
• Westmoreland County food assistance (Westmoreland)
• Food Helpers of Washington County (Washington)
• Families Matter Food Pantry (Beaver)
• Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank: Beaver Falls (Beaver)
• Butler County Food Cupboards (Butler)
• The Lighthouse Foundation (Butler)
• Lawrence County Assistance Office (Lawrence)
• Fayette County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Fayette)
• Corner Cupboard Foodbank (Greene)
• Armstrong County Community Action Agency pantry locations (Armstrong)

Those seeking assistance while SNAP benefits are not being paid out should also view lists of Pittsburgh food resources and mutual aid distribution as well as learn about the Pittsburgh Police’s Thanksgiving dinner distribution.