Sacramento, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom reports that SNAP recipients are starting to receive benefits after a federal judge ordered the USDA to use contingency funds to fully fund the program throughout November.
Following Thursday’s court order, several states, including California, reported that November’s benefits were quickly starting to be allocated.
Governor Newsom states, “Benefits are now beginning to be available on recipients’ cards (as of Thursday evening) so that families can again access the food they need.”
While the USDA does not have enough contingency money to fully fund November’s benefits ($5.25 billion in contingencies to cover $9 billion in benefits), the judge ruled that the USDA can use Section 32 funds for SNAP, of which there is $23 billion available.
Related to that point, the Trump administration filed an appeal this morning, asking the court to suspend the order that it use more money than is in the original $5.25 billion fund, so some questions still linger.
California serves around 5.5 million people through CAL Fresh. We reported last week that in Tuolumne County, there are 4,432 active CAL Fresh cases, serving 6,598 individuals.
Click here to view an earlier story about a spike in demand at local food pantries.
