Utahns who depend on food aid will get their benefits by Saturday, the state officials said, now that the federal government has reopened.
The state will issue full November benefits to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, customers by Saturday, though some will start receiving funds on Friday.
SNAP, also known as food stamps, is fully funded by the federal government.
The aid helped 169,300 Utahns buy food between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, according to the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and 69% of recipients were part of families with kids.
“SNAP is a lifeline for many families and now that federal funding has resumed, we can get people the help they need,” said Becky Wickstrom, spokesperson for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the program.
The longest-ever federal government shutdown delayed payments to some SNAP recipients, but it ended after Congress and the White House approved a deal to reopen the government late Wednesday.
Those who receive their SNAP benefits on the 15th of the month will receive their deposit as normally scheduled.
There’s more information on managing benefits at jobs.utah.gov/mycase.