The 1.42 million North Carolinians reliant on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, will receive benefits through at least Oct. 31 during the federal government shutdown.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the availability Wednesday as it is working with local, state and federal agencies “to understand and navigate the evolving impacts on essential services.”
“DHHS is awaiting guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture for impacts beyond October should the shutdown continue. DHHS will need to wait for final clarity from federal partners to know the exact impact to our programs.”
SNAP serves primarily low-income households. There has been a significant uptick in enrollment among western N.C. households during the Hurricane Helene recovery period.
More than 700,000 households receive benefits each month. About 80% of families participating in SNAP in North Carolina have either a child, senior or an adult with a disability.
“Food and nutrition are foundational to good health, and people should not have to worry about their families and communities going hungry,” state Health Secretary Dev Sangvai said in a statement.
There are 262,000 N.C. women, infants and children who receive Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) benefits, DHHS has projected that WIC payments could run out as soon as Thursday.
WIC provides access to healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals for health care and community services. There also has been a sizable increase in people getting WIC benefits in Western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene.
Trump administration officials and U.S. House speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have said WIC funds will not be provided during the shutdown.
DHHS said it “is working diligently to try and mitigate these impacts and is in consistent communication with county and federal partners.”
“Poor access to nutrition is linked to poor health outcomes for infants and children,” said Yvonne Copeland, director of the N.C. Division of Child and Family Wellbeing.
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“We hope there is progress in passing a federal spending plan to ensure WIC continues to provide crucial support to North Carolina families at a time-critical stage of early childhood development.”
For more information on SNAP or WIC benefits and impacts from the federal shutdown, go to www.ncdhhs.gov/fns.
COVID vaccine changes
Separately Wednesday, DHHS said that Sangvai plans to lift Monday his standing order that allows North Carolinians to receive COVID-19 vaccines in pharmacies.
The standing order enables people ages 65 and older, as well as those ages 18 to 64 with at least one high-risk condition, to get the COVID vaccine booster dose without a prescription through the services of a pharmacy chain or local pharmacy.
Typical high-risk conditions involve asthma, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, obesity, diabetes, history of smoking, depression, severe physical inactivity and pregnancy.
According to DHHS, as of Wednesday about 80,000 North Carolinians have received a COVID vaccine shot during the standing order period.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ has approved updated recommendations that allow for vaccination without a prescription.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently voted to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone 6 months of age and older if an individual or parent/guardian chooses to get one for themself or their child after discussion with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other health care provider.
Professional medical societies recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all children 6 to 23 months of age, children 2 to 18 years of age with risk factors for severe illness or whose parents would like to have their child receive the vaccine, and all adults, especially those with risk factors or who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
A prescription from a provider is not needed, and NC Medicaid and insurance companies will cover COVID-19 vaccines as they have in previous years.
DHHS recommends calling a pharmacy, provider or clinic ahead of time to ensure they have the COVID-19 vaccine and make an appointment if one is necessary.
rcraver@wsjournal.com
336-727-7376
@rcraverWSJ
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