Mississippi halts November SNAP benefits amid federal shutdown; DeSoto County residents impacted

• November SNAP benefits will not be issued in Mississippi due to the federal government shutdown.
• The halt follows a directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which lacks funding to make payments.
• Residents can still use any remaining EBT balances from prior months; food banks are the primary alternative.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued for November 2025 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The decision affects more than 350,000 Mississippians statewide, including residents in DeSoto County.

The halt follows a directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which federally funds the SNAP program. According to MDHS, the USDA has instructed states not to transmit EBT issuance files due to the lack of an approved federal budget.

“No new SNAP benefits will be issued for November unless federal guidance changes,” MDHS stated in a release.

Agency officials confirmed that any unused benefits from October or previous months remaining on a recipient’s EBT card are still accessible. MDHS is encouraging clients to use any existing balance to purchase essential, shelf-stable food items.

While MDHS will continue to accept and process SNAP applications, no new benefits can be issued, even for approved applications, until the federal shutdown is resolved and funding is restored.

Residents are advised to continue meeting all program requirements, such as reporting household changes and completing scheduled interviews, to maintain eligibility.

For those in immediate need of food assistance, MDHS encourages contact with local food pantries.

Connie James with Heartland Hands food pantry in Horn Lake, the largest food pantry in DeSoto County, is bracing for a significant increase in demand after the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) announced it will not be distributing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November.

James stated that the organization is already experiencing a rise in visitors fueled by uncertainty.

“We’ve seen some,” James said of a recent increase. “I think people are just real nervous about it, you know, not knowing what the government’s going to do, and so they’re showing up to get food.”

With the state confirming a halt to November benefits, James anticipates the need will grow substantially.

“I’m sure we will,” James said when asked if she projects more interest.

To meet the challenge, Heartland Hands plans to continue its operations, relying heavily on its supply chain and community generosity.

“We’ll just continue to give out food as long as we’ve got it,” James stated. “We’ve got really good donors that donate food to us, and as long as they’re donating food, we’re going to give it out.”

Heartland Hands’ mission also includes supplying other organizations. James noted they recently sent “a whole tractor-trailer load” of food to Hattiesburg to ensure other pantries are stocked.

“We’re just making sure that… we’ve got food,” James said. “We’re just going to continue to do what we do.”

For more information on Heartland Hands, visit their website or call 662-280-5365.