SNAP dollars will be cut off Nov. 1. Here’s what you need to know in NY and NJ.

SNAP Benefits Set to Expire: New York and New Jersey Residents Face Uncertainty Over Food Assistance

In just 30 days, millions of low-income New Yorkers will lose access to critical food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On November 1st, the US Department of Agriculture announced that it would cease making payments for SNAP benefits, leaving many residents in a precarious position.

As the expiration date approaches, social service organizations and local pantries are bracing themselves for an influx of new clients. Food Bank for New York City's senior vice president, Zac Hall, emphasized the program's importance: "No single organization nor the food assistance network can absorb that." The Food Bank serves about 95 million meals per month to New Yorkers, a staggering number that outstrips the capacity of even the largest hunger relief organizations.

For many residents, SNAP benefits are a lifeline. Without access to these funds, families will struggle to put food on the table. City Harvest's CEO, Jilly Stephens, noted that "Families will dispatch older children to different neighborhoods, and it becomes then another job for the family to piece together everything they need."

New Jersey residents also face uncertainty about their SNAP benefits. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey has seen a 10% increase in demand over the past two weeks, with people anticipating the end of benefits and trying to stock up on food. To mitigate this crisis, Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and allocated over $100 million for emergency food assistance.

As SNAP recipients struggle to cope with the impending loss of benefits, local organizations are working to provide support. Food pantries across New York City and New Jersey are opening their doors wider, offering mobile delivery services and waiving fees on groceries purchased by SNAP users.

Meanwhile, donors are being urged to step forward and help those in need. Organizations like Food Bank for NYC and City Harvest rely on private donations to continue providing vital food assistance.

While the exact fate of SNAP benefits remains uncertain, one thing is clear: millions of New Yorkers will face a significant challenge as the program comes to an end. As Kanchana Suggu, senior vice president and chief impact officer at United Way of New York City, noted, "Even a day's delay in people being able to access benefits puts severe strain and stress on families – it's absolutely unacceptable."

lololol wut is up with the US gov? can't even get a food program right? i mean come on 30 days notice? that's like planning a surprise party for your friends... they don't show up

and btw, why do we need 95 million meals per month just from one program? that's like a whole lot of people having empty stomachs food banks can only absorb so much and i'm sure they're already stretched thin

i feel for the fams who rely on snap but can we not have some sort of contingency plan here? like, what happens when we don't get our benefits? do we just magically grow an extra income or something?

anywayz, to all the good ppl out there dont forget to donate to these food banks and orgs they're doing their thing to help those in need

This is so sad news! I think the government should've done something to help prevent this from happening. SNAP benefits are crucial for low-income families who can't afford food, and now they're gonna be stuck . The fact that people have to choose between paying rent/mortgage or buying groceries is just heartbreaking . Local organizations like food banks are doing their best to help, but it's not enough . We need more support from private donors and maybe even some government intervention . It's unacceptable that millions of ppl will face a huge challenge in 30 days . What's gonna happen when the program ends? Will ppl have to go hungry?

I'm getting worried about all these low-income fams losin' their SNAP benefits . Like, they're already strugglin' to make ends meet, and now they gotta worry 'bout puttin' food on the table? It's gonna be a disaster, imo. And what about those who don't got access to other forms of support? They're basically left out in the cold . Donors need to step up and help out – we can't rely on gov't handouts all the time . Our food banks and pantries are doin' their best, but they're gettin' slammed with demand. It's a crisis waitin' to happen if we don't act fast .

The thought of losing SNAP benefits is just terrifying . Like, what are people supposed to do then? Food banks and pantries are already super busy, so it's not like they can just take in all the extra demand without some serious strain . I feel for those families who rely on this program - it's literally their lifeline . We need to get more donations and support to these organizations ASAP , 'cause we can't let people go hungry over some bureaucratic issue . It's just not right...

I'M SO WORRIED ABOUT THESE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY WHO ARE GOING TO BE LEFT HIGH AND DRY WHEN SNAP BENEFITS EXPIRE!!! IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM THE SYSTEM. I MEAN, FOOD BANK FOR NYC SERVES LIKE 95 MILLION MEALS A MONTH ALREADY AND IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH! WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE BENEFITS RUN OUT!!!

I'm so worried about all these ppl who rely on SNAP, u know? It's like, what's gonna happen when the funds run out? Food banks are already super busy, so adding more ppl to serve is a big deal. They need help from donors and organizations ASAP, or it'll be really tough for families to get by. I feel bad 4 all those ppl who r struggling to afford food.

this is crazy i mean 95 million meals a month is insane how are food banks and pantries supposed to keep up with that kind of demand? they need more help not less and its not just new york city either NJ residents are going to be affected too, thats 2 states now facing uncertainty about snapp benefits. what's the gov doing to prevent this crisis other than just declaring a state of emergency and throwing in some cash, like $100 million isnt gonna cut it . people need more than just temporary fixes they need sustainable solutions that address the root cause of hunger

man this is crazy think about millions of ppl going hungry cuz of 1 thing its like weve lost sight of what matters food is basic human need but somehow its turned into politics and now were faced with a crisis that could have been prevented if ppl just talked to each other sooner governments and orgs are trying to help but theres still so much uncertainty its like the system is broken but whats interesting is how ppl are coming together to support each other food pantries and orgs r opening their doors wider and donors r stepping up but its not enough theres still a huge gap to fill

I'm getting this chill down my spine thinking about what's gonna happen to all these people when SNAP benefits run out . I mean, remember when we used to have to rely on our grandparents' help for food? My grandma would always make sure I had a full plate every time I came over... Those were the days, man . Now, it feels like everyone's gotta scramble just to put food on the table.

And New Jersey? 10% increase in demand over two weeks? That's crazy! I remember when my friend used to work at a soup kitchen and they'd get these huge shipments of food... It was like a miracle, you know? But times have changed and it feels like nobody's got a safety net anymore.

I wish donors would just open up their wallets and help out, ya know? Like, what happened to all the good Samaritans back in the day? I'm not saying it's that simple, but... Ugh, I don't even wanna think about how hard this is gonna be for people. My heart goes out to those families who'll be struggling to make ends meet without SNAP .

I don’t usually comment but... SNAP benefits are literally the difference between feeding my fam or going hungry. 30 days without it is like, what’s gonna happen? I live in a low-income neighborhood and I know people who rely on those benefits to get by. It's not just about food, it's about being able to afford rent and bills too. Without SNAP, they'll have to go to the soup kitchen or food bank which is already super crowded. The state of emergency in NJ is a good start but it's not enough, imo . We need more support from the government and private donors to make sure everyone has access to food. It's crazy that people are having to stock up on food like they're preparing for a hurricane or something

[Image of a sad cartoon child holding an empty fridge ]

[Meme of a person trying to carry too much weight, with a label saying "SNAP Benefits" at the top ]

[ GIF of a food truck driving into a city, with people waiting in line behind it ]

[Image of a sad-looking family with a caption: "When you run out of food and can't afford to buy more ]

I'm getting really worried about this SNAP benefits thing. Like, what's going on here? They're just cutting off these benefits without even giving people enough time to adjust. I need to see some concrete numbers on how much money the gov is saving by doing this... it can't be that simple. And what about all the organizations that are struggling to keep up with the demand? Food Bank for NYC alone serves 95 million meals a month, that's like, whoa! How are they supposed to handle an even bigger influx of people now? It just doesn't seem right. Where's the data on how many people will be affected and what kind of impact this will have on communities? Need some transparency here...

omg this is so unfair!!! 30 days is like, a crazy short notice for ppl who are already struggling they need more time to sort out their finances & get back on their feet. dont they know that food insecurity is a huge issue in these states? its not just about the $$$ it's about people's dignity & well-being. we gotta do better, you know?

I'm really worried about what's gonna happen when SNAP benefits expire. Like, can you imagine not having any money for food? It's not just the lack of cash that's the problem, it's also the stress and anxiety that comes with it . I mean, people are already struggling to make ends meet, and now they're gonna have to deal with the uncertainty of whether they'll get their benefits on time or not.

It's not like these organizations can just absorb all the extra demand on their own (as Zac Hall said). They need help from us, the community, to step up and support those in need. I'm all for government aid, but it's also important for people to come together and donate what they can .

I wish there was more that could be done to prevent this crisis, but at least some good is coming out of it – like, people are starting to open their doors wider to those in need. So, let's just hope that everyone stays positive and supportive during this tough time .

People should not be forced to live in the shadows; our nation was founded on the idea that every citizen deserves dignity. ~ Michelle Obama

SNAP benefits are about to expire for millions of low-income ppl in NY & NJ . It's like, what's gonna happen when they can't afford food? I'm all for help but don't think the gov's prepared for this crisis . Local orgs r stepping up with mobile delivery services & waiving fees, but it's not enough . We need more donations to keep ppl fed during this uncertain time #SNAPexpiring #FoodInsecurity #NYNJ

man this is gonna be a tough time for a lot of fams in ny & nj food banks & pantries are already overwhelmed with the demand but they're stepping up to help out donors are also super needed to keep this support going it's just not fair that ppl have to fight for access to basic necessities like food can't wait to see all the orgs come together to make a difference