Washington state delivering full SNAP benefits to families amid legal tumult
Amid an unprecedented legal tug-of-war on food benefits and much confusion, Washington families are starting to receive aid.
Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday evening that the state has caught up on distributing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that faced delays because of the federal shutdown.
“It is breathtaking that the Trump Administration has fought so hard to keep food from hungry families,” he said in a Nov. 10 post on X.
At least 20 states had reportedly begun the process of delivering complete SNAP benefits before the administration of President Donald Trump ordered them to reverse course over the weekend. This followed a week of legal back-and-forth over how much aid the administration would green-light, or whether it’d send any at all.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court was expected to rule on the Trump administration’s request to continue barring states from giving full assistance. The feds’ argument is that such dollars could be required elsewhere, according to PBS.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Trump have blamed congressional Democrats for the benefits lapse.
Ferguson said Monday evening that despite it all, Washington is now delivering benefits in full. So far the state has doled out nearly $115 million and will distribute another $48.5 million between Tuesday and Nov. 20.
“The situation remains fluid, but our plan is to stay on schedule from here on out,” he said on X.
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) wrote in a Monday post on its website that it has worked to get out benefits as soon as possible.
DSHS noted that SNAP families can check their benefit status by calling the number on the back of their cards. If money is there, it can be used.
“We are relieved we can issue full November food assistance benefits for people in Washington state even though the federal government shutdown continues,” DSHS wrote. “While we cannot predict what might happen in December, we will share information as soon as it is available.”
More than 500,000 households in Washington benefit from SNAP, according to Ferguson’s office.
Over 350,000 households have received food benefits for November, DSHS spokesperson Norah West said via email. SNAP benefits are issued on different dates, and about 150,000 households have issuance dates from Nov. 12 through 20.
“DSHS is doing everything it can to ensure all people in Washington state receive their food benefits,” West said.
She noted that Ferguson transferred $2.2 million a week in state-funded food aid to help out food banks once federal benefits were halted after Oct. 31.
Food banks statewide are reporting record-setting demand.
Congress is charging ahead this week to bring the federal government shutdown to a close, meaning that SNAP payments will presumably restart upon reopening.
Scott Livengood, CEO of Alpha Supported Living Services, said his organization is contracted through DSHS to provide residential support in homes for people with developmental disabilities. That includes offering help with behavior support and medications, as well as managing income and benefits such as SNAP.
Livengood said about 60% of Alpha clients receive SNAP benefits ranging from $24 to nearly $300 a month. Yet going to food banks, as DSHS has advised, isn’t doable for many.
Most clients have complex needs, often with medical issues, and some are on special diets that can’t be accommodated by food banks, he said. Their families and staff are feeling lots of stress and anxiety, too.
A large portion of people with developmental disabilities receive these benefits, he said.
“And they should not be the victim of some political game going on,” Livengood added.
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
.jpg)