(BOISE) – The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will delay issuing food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, beginning next month. This suspension of benefits in Idaho comes at the request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. Federal funding for the program, commonly called food stamps, is projected to be exhausted in two weeks if a resolution is not reached.
While new applications for the program will still be accepted, the state agency anticipates longer wait times at its call centers and offices. The department, often referred to as Health and Welfare, confirmed that benefits for the Women, Infants, and Children program, or WIC, are not affected by this pause. Residents in need of immediate food assistance are encouraged to find local resources by calling the Idaho CareLine at 211.
