February payments will be made Thursday because of government shutdown

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) will be issuing February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits early as a result of the federal government shutdown.

SNAP recipients who received a benefit in January and are eligible for ongoing benefits in February will have their February benefits available on their EBT card Jan. 17, 2019. This will affect an estimated 231,000 households.

This is not a bonus payment. SNAP recipients will not receive another benefit in February, even if the federal government reopens. Households are strongly encouraged to carefully plan and budget their benefits accordingly.

DSS has been instructed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue to accept and process new applications and recertifications as normal. The majority of recipients whose SNAP benefits are due for recertification this month will not be included in the January 17th issuance. Any SNAP recipient whose recertification is approved after January 16th will receive their February benefits on their normal monthly issuance date in February. All program rules, including verification of income, are not waived because of this early issuance process.

If SNAP participants have questions, they can contact their local office or call DSS Connect at 1-800-616-1309.

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