As November looms, states are trying to sort what options they can offer beneficiaries to fill the gap in food assistance. Reporters from the NPR Network are covering the impact of this potential lapse in states across the country.

Yes, Connecticut officials said that EBT cards will indeed continue to work during the government shutdown, even in November when no new SNAP funds will be issued. The USDA confirmed this in a statement sent to all SNAP state agencies.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a major piece of the U.S. social safety net used by nearly 42 million, or about 1 in 8 Americans, to help buy groceries.

Even before SNAP benefits paused, pantries within the Greater Lansing Food Banks network were seeing consistent increases in usage.

West Virginia’s system for distributing electronic SNAP benefits isn’t set up to receive an infusion of state dollars, according to the governor and lawmakers, leaving the state’s food banks and pantries in need of donations to keep people fed during the delayed food benefits.

State elected Democrats are struggling to pull together a plan to continue food assistance for roughly 1.4 million Michiganders, just days before a Nov. 1 deadline.

However, SNAP benefits typically roll over month to month, allowing a recipient to spend any unused money on their EBT card up to 274 days after it was issued, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Services (DTA).

I don't know how we're going to pay rent, let alone our other bills, and get food." "I do cook everything from scratch, and I've been adding rice, beans, or noodles to stretch it out. I'm just at my wits' end and overwhelmed.