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SNAP dollars will be cut off Nov. 1. Here’s what you need to know in NY and NJ.
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 31, 2025
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Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Karen Yi
Published Oct 31, 2025
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About 1.8 million New Yorkers and 800,000 New Jerseyans will be cut off from their SNAP benefits starting Saturday — after the Trump administration said it wouldn’t pay next month’s food stamps due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Food pantries and soup kitchens across the region say they’re expecting more people at their doors. They are furiously stocking up on supplies to meet demand. And while New York state officials have announced additional or expedited funding for emergency meals, food policy experts say there’s no way those efforts can fill the massive hole left by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
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New York City receives about $424 million in SNAP benefits every month, according to the state comptroller.
”No single organization nor the food assistance network can absorb that,” said Zac Hall, the senior vice president of the Food Bank for New York City. He said SNAP covers about 95 million meals a month for New Yorkers, more than the Food Bank, which is the largest hunger relief organization in the city, distributes in an entire year.
Here’s what to know about the looming pause on SNAP.
When will benefits end?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers SNAP, said it will stop making payments Nov. 1. If the department makes good on that promise, it would be the first time the program has been disrupted since it started during the Great Depression.
SNAP recipients receive their benefits on debit-like EBT cards on different days of the month. The longer the pause continues, the more people who won’t receive that month’s payment on time.
While most SNAP payments, which average to $187 a month, are used within the first two weeks, recipients who have any dollars leftover on their cards from October will be able to use those funds in November.
How are food pantries and local organizations preparing?
Food providers are purchasing more food, soliciting donations and considering whether to open on more days or add staff. While some SNAP recipients already rely on pantries to make it through the month, providers say they expect to see more people and more frequent visits.
"What we see in a time of crisis is you’ll see people go into different neighborhoods, different boroughs," said Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest, a food rescue group. “Families will dispatch older children to different neighborhoods and it becomes then another job for the family to piece together everything they need to get the food on the table for the family.”
The SNAP cut off comes as food pantries say they’ve already seen an increase in demand in the last two weeks. Providers said people are anticipating the end of benefits and trying to stock up on food. The New York Common Pantry in East Harlem said demand is up 10% in the last two weeks.
Elizabeth McCarthy, president and CEO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, said the trend is similar across the Hudson.
“The last three weeks we've been up by about 10% each week. People have started to hear about this and are anxious and are coming to us and very nervous about what's going to happen,” she said, adding the organization was planning mass distribution “COVID-style car line” events by county in the 11 counties where it makes distributions.
"This is real life," said Christine Quinn, CEO of WIN, the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families with children in the city. "Babies won't have formula. Small children won't have breakfast or lunch. Kids who don't go to school, kids who aren't yet in school or day care won't have breakfast or lunch during the week."
She said WIN is raising funds to give her clients gift cards they can use at the grocery store.
Where can SNAP recipients go for help?
New York City has a robust network of food pantries and soup kitchens. City Harvest, Food Bank of NYC and the city’s Department of Social Services all have maps where residents can look for nearby food assistance.
The Plentiful app also shows users where food pantries are, the hours they are open and allows people to register for programs.
In New Jersey, the Community Food Bank also has a map of food distribution locations that will be updated with new distribution events. McCarthy said in New Jersey, SNAP recipients can also contact their local municipality or county to learn about any available aid.
Can food assistance be delivered?
Some pantries do offer mobile delivery but not all. Citymeals on Wheels delivers to homebound older adults daily across the five boroughs. South Asian Council of Social Services also provides delivery services.
DoorDash announced it is waiving delivery and service fees for grocery purchases by SNAP users.
What can I do if I’m in a position to help?
New Yorkers can donate to their local food pantry or network anti-hunger organizations like Food Bank of NYC or City Harvest.
What are states doing to help SNAP recipients?
Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency on Thursday and has directed more than $100 million for emergency food. She’s also directing students in a state service program to help at food banks and pantries.
New York City is also giving an additional $15 million to local food pantries.
New Jersey was the first state in the nation to set a minimum monthly benefit for SNAP recipients of $95 a month. That means if a SNAP household receives less than $95 a month on their EBT cards from the federal government, the state subsidizes up to $95. Come Nov. 1, local officials say the state portion will still be distributed to 32,000 households.
New Jersey officials also said they would accelerate delivery or previously awarded grants to support food banks.
Is there a chance SNAP benefits could go out in November?
It’s unclear. A group of attorneys general, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, has asked the courts to intervene to force the USDA to use contingency funding to keep SNAP funded. The Trump administration said it can’t use those funds to make SNAP payments.
”Even a day's delay in people being able to access benefits puts severe strain and stress on families, and it's absolutely unacceptable,” said Kanchana Suggu, senior vice president and chief impact officer at United Way of New York City.
We want to hear from you! How do you save money when you grocery shop? Send us your answers through this form. Gothamist reporters may contact you to feature you in a future article.
Tagged
economy
food
new york city
Karen Yi
Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460.
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