"The government shutdown suspended SNAP payments nationwide on Nov. 1. At the same time, New York's social service agencies were hit with a surprise decision by the Trump administration that left them scrambling to implement expanded work requirements several months earlier than expected.A messy legal battle involving 25 states and the Supreme Court ensued. But it wasn't until Congress reopened the federal government on Nov. 13 that the White House seemingly acquiesced to mounting pressure from unfavorable legal rulings."
""My brain just couldn't wrap itself around what the heck was going on," said Diana Ramos, an activist with Urban Justice Center's Safety Net Project and a SNAP recipient from the Bronx. Last month, as the drama unfolded in Washington, Ramos said she took out a cash advance to stay afloat and juggle costs like dog food and a secondhand winter jacket."
SNAP payments were suspended nationwide on Nov. 1 during a government shutdown while New York faced an unexpected federal decision forcing earlier implementation of expanded work requirements. A legal battle involving 25 states and the Supreme Court followed, and Congress reopened the government on Nov. 13, prompting the administration to resume payments and uphold a waiver delaying New York's new work requirements until next year. Some recipients, like Diana Ramos, experienced acute hardship and used cash advances to cover necessities before benefits were restored. Feeding Westchester reports ongoing recipient anxiety about future disruptions despite assurances that SNAP funding extends through September 2026.
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