USDA asks Indiana FSSA to pump the brakes on readying November SNAP benefits

INDIANAPOLIS — As the government shutdown extends into its third week, the USDA has asked all state agencies to hold off on the process of issuing November benefits.

That includes the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA)—putting roughly 580,000 Hoosiers at risk. Food security advocates had warned for the last several weeks that Hoosiers relying on SNAP and WIC could see their benefits disrupted if the shutdown doesn’t end by November.

“It could have very significant impacts on those families and the health of their children,” Pam Verbarg with the Arc of Greater Boone County said.

The Arc acts as the sponsoring agency for the area’s WIC program. According to Verbarg, the Indiana Department of Health has acknowledged that the state’s WIC program will not receive any federal funding for FY 2026 until a new budget or continuing resolution (CR) is in place—meaning it’s unclear what WIC funding could look like at the end of October.

“This is kind of [an] unprecedented time for them because they have not ever had to face a shutdown that’s beyond a month,” Verbarg said.

“This would clearly be an emergency for families,” Emily Weikert Bryant with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry said.

According to Bryant, Indiana relies on roughly $100 million in SNAP benefits each month. She also said the nonprofit’s 11 regional food banks are preparing for elevated numbers should the shutdown extend into next month.

“SNAP benefits are fine and covered for the month of October,” Bryant said. “It’s as we move toward November that it’s less clear.”

Sam Snideman with the United Way of Central Indiana said Indiana is the third-most reliant state on federal funding.

“We are a state that has a higher than national average demand and utilization of these programs,” Snideman said. “We are so heavily reliant on these dollars, it really is an open question on how long, how much runway the state really has in terms of serving families.”

The FSSA said earlier this month it did not anticipate that the shutdown would impact Hoosier SNAP recipients at that time, but did acknowledge that was subject to change. A statement reads in part:

“…If the shutdown were to extend beyond October…Hoosiers receiving SNAP benefits could be affected. The specific impacts remain uncertain until we receive further guidance from the Food and Nutrition Service.”

A statement from the IDOH reads:

“State funds have been identified to keep WIC operating as normal for the foreseeable future.”

The IDOH did not give any more details on a specific timeline.

According to the governor’s office, the state is in good shape to weather an extended federal shutdown, but did not offer specifics when questioned.

“The state, thankfully, has a lot of strong leaders,” Molly Craft, a spokesperson for Gov. Braun’s Office, said earlier this month. “We’re all working together. We’re all monitoring the situation to address what we need to address to make sure Hoosiers are taken care of, so we’ll see.”

“We have weathered the storm,” Verbarg said. “What I would say again is right now the message we want to give folks is: don’t panic.”

Verbarg said Hoosiers who rely on SNAP or WIC dollars should keep in touch with their local food pantries and research alternative programs. Verbarg also said the state has yet to address if and how tariff funds could be used to help fill in potential funding gaps.

Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, shared the following statement with FOX59/CBS4:

“The government shutdown is directly hurting Hoosiers, particularly the military and other
federal workers, as well as small businesses, who are not receiving the pay they deserve and rely on. For many, the shutdown is affecting their ability to feed their families at the worst possible time, when grocery prices continue to rise and food insecurity rates are at their highest in
a decade.”