Shutdown leaves food banks, and recipients of food aid, in need

In addition to the Floridians who depend on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the shutdown is prompting federal workers to seek help getting food on the table. State agencies and food banks try to help.

Despite the federal government shutdown, the 2.9 million Floridians who receive federal food assistance will get through February with an early allotment to stock up on groceries, but the shutdown has created a whole new group of people who aren’t used to needing help getting food on the table: federal workers.

The many furloughed employees and contractors present state agencies and local groups with a new problem, and they’ve had to make changes in staffing and structure to keep Floridians healthy and fed while dealing with their own shortages caused by the shutdown.

By Sunday, Jan. 20, those who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will get their benefits for the month of February, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. In Florida, those who receive SNAP through the Department of Children and Families would normally get those benefits in the first 10 days of February.

Even though the federal budget bill expired on Dec. 21, a provision allows federal agencies to make payments up to 30 days after that date. Congress approved funding for SNAP through January.

But the thousands of federal workers without paychecks aren’t able to apply for SNAP benefits because no one is there to process their applications.

According to the agency’s