The federal government shutdown means that food benefits for about 240,000 North Carolina mothers and young children and more than a million others are in limbo, as state and federal officials offer differing opinions when those benefits will end.
Trump administration officials and U.S. House speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., say Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) funds will not be provided during the shutdown.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday that WIC payments could potentially last through the middle of next week.
DHHS also said funding for the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is projected to last through at least through October and possibly several additional months. DHHS cautioned that SNAP funding could run out sooner depending on the length of the shutdown.
WIC provides access to healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and referrals for health care and community services. There has been a sizable increase in people getting WIC benefits in Western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene.
The Associated Press reports the U.S. Agriculture Department’s contingency plan allows WIC to reallocate unused grant award funds from the 2024-25 fiscal year budget.
“The timing of this shutdown threat at the start of the (federal) fiscal year puts WIC at risk of rapidly running out of funds,” Georgia Machell, president and chief executive of the National WIC Association, told NPR.
“A prolonged federal government shutdown of more than one week puts WIC families at risk.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, serves primarily low-income households. There are about 1.42 million N.C. participants.
SNAP also has experienced a significant uptick in enrollment among western N.C. households during the Hurricane Helene recovery period.
DHHS said that “for each program potentially impacted by the shutdown, the federal government is deciding which would be exempt from a shutdown and giving us guidance on how to proceed.”
“NCDHHS may not be impacted immediately, but that could change depending on the length of the shutdown. NCDHHS will need to wait for final clarity from federal partners to know the exact impact to our programs.”
Other everyday functions
The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by the federal government shutdown since it is primarily self-funded.
Monthly Social Security checks and federal benefits, such as from the Veterans Administration, will continue, through delays are expected in processing and in processing new applications.
The Trump administration has indicated that some Veterans Administration services will not be interrupted by the shutdown.
North Carolina is among the larger states in terms of veteran residents, with about 600,000 among its 11.21 million population.
VA medical centers, outpatient clinics and healthcare providers will remain accessible, while most benefits, including education and housing, will continue to be paid. VA crisis hotlines will remain open.
However, VA assistance in helping veterans transition to civilian life has been paused, while VA regional offices — including the 251 N. Main St. location in Winston-Salem — are closed.
rcraver@wsjournal.com
336-727-7376
@rcraverWSJ
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