Minnesota Counties Stop Accepting SNAP Applications

Learfield New/St. Paul, MN) — Minnesota is halting new food assistance applications, another direct hit from the federal government shutdown.

As of 10 pm Wednesday, counties across the state stopped approving new applications for SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families warns that federal funding is running out and without congressional action, November benefits may not be paid. The department sent a letter (see below) to every county and tribal nation government in the state to let them know that future funding for the SNAP Program and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) could be in jeopardy if the federal shutdown continues.

SNAP currently supports more than 450,000 Minnesotans, including children and working families.

Contents of the letter;

Dear county leaders,

We are reaching out to provide an update on the federal shutdown. On Friday, Oct. 10, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services that if the shutdown continues into November, there will be insufficient funds to pay November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The USDA has directed states to hold November issuance files and delay transmission to state EBT vendors until further notice.

An interruption in receiving food assistance can be very disruptive – even dire – for the lives of Minnesota’s families. SNAP helps more than 440,000 individuals in Minnesota, and more than 42 million individuals across the country, get the food they need. We will continue to work with counties, Tribal Nations, and community-based organizations, and we need Congress to act quickly to end the shutdown and ensure people can continue to put food on their tables.

System impacts:

As a result of the directive from the USDA, DCYF will be taking the following actions:

• The MAXIS system will be programmed to block approvals for SNAP and the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).

• • MFIP combines a food and cash benefit that involves both federal and state funds, and it is not possible to separate them; therefore, this block also includes the cash portion of MFIP.

Counties and Tribal Nations should know:

• Workers should continue to accept applications and may enter them into MAXIS.
• After the effective dates listed below, eligibility staff will see a message in the system when attempting to approve SNAP and MFIP cases.
• Approvals will be blocked for both SNAP and MFIP cases.

Key dates:

• Wednesday, Oct. 15 – pending SNAP applications processed on or after this date cannot be approved.
• Tuesday, Oct. 21 – DCYF will provide notice to SNAP and MFIP recipients that November benefits will not be issued.
• Wednesday, Oct. 29 – active, reinstated, or pending MFIP cases processed on or after this date cannot be approved.
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – active or reinstated SNAP cases processed on or after this date cannot be approved.

Notice and resources:

In lieu of mailed letters to individual recipients, an electronic notice will be distributed via text and email to active cases. In addition, DCYF’s website and Facebook page, as well as the MNbenefits website will be updated as needed with information for applicants and current SNAP and MFIP recipients that November benefits will not be issued. Call centers and the vendor line will be updated with similar messages.

We will update the DCYF website regularly to provide information to recipients and the public. We will also be in touch with community partners throughout the state that have touchpoints with SNAP and MFIP.

Additional information:

• The Diversionary Work Program cash portion will continue to be approved and issued.
• General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Housing Supports, and Refugee Cash Assistance will also continue to be approved and issued.
• It is our understanding that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will have enough Medicaid funding to last through the first quarter of federal fiscal year 2026. 

• • For more information, please see the CMS updated contingency plan, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website.

Continued communication:

We will continue to provide updates as we receive further guidance from the USDA. We continue to hope Congress will pass a full year budget or a continuing resolution to fund the federal government. DHS and DCYF have a joint Incident Command Team that is meeting regularly to stay on top of any new issues that may arise.

Please reach out to Kari Ouimette, DCYF’s Director of County Relations, with any questions at kari.ouimette@state.mn.us.

Thank you for your partnership,

Tikki Brown

Commissioner