From SNAP to Social Security, what the government shutdown means for November benefits

The government shutdown stretching into November will have a huge impact on millions of Americans, but only a handful of federal safety net programs are affected.

As News 6 has reported in the last two weeks, SNAP benefits are not expected to be distributed on Nov. 1 as expected, leaving some 40 million people without benefits.

[WATCH: Central Florida food programs face challenges as federal SNAP support stops]

Two federal judges have ordered the USDA to fund the food assistance program using a contingency fund, but it’s not known when that money will be available. The judges also gave the USDA some leeway on whether to fund the program for part of November or for the full month.

The judges have set a Monday deadline for attorneys for the Trump administration to explain how the government will fund the program.

[RELATED: Where to find help with food in Central Florida]

Other programs that Americans depend on, however, will continue to be funded.

Here’s a look at where other programs stand amid the shutdown, as of Nov. 1.

Social Security

Some 69 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, while another 7.5 million receive Supplemental Security Income.

Despite the government shutdown, Social Security recipients will continue to get their funds in November.

If you do not get an expected payment, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local office.

A few services will not be available at SSA offices, including updating or correcting earnings records, issuing proof of income letters, or replacing Medicare cards.

[WATCH: How health care became the sticking point in the government shutdown]

WIC

The status of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, is up in the air.

According to the National WIC Association, tariff revenue was used to fund the program in October. NWICA asked the administration to commit another $300 million to fund the program through the first two weeks of November, but the administration has not responded.

If there are no additional WIC funds provided by Nov. 1, the impacts will vary by state.

According to USDA data, some 428,000 people in Florida received benefits through WIC as of May 2025. The program helps with healthy food like milk, eggs and produce.

We have reached out to the Florida Department of Health to find out if the state will be able to keep WIC going in November. We have yet to hear back.

Head Start

Some 139 Head Start grantees that manage the early learning programs were expected to get federal funding in November.

According to the National Head Start Association, the loss of federal funds could impact some 10,728 student slots in Florida, including almost 2,000 in the Central Florida area.

However, a spokesperson for NHSA says programs are working to find alternative funds to keep their doors open. So far, we have not heard of any programs closing in Central Florida.

Federal student aid and loans

Student aid, such as Pell Grants and direct student loans, will continue to be disbursed.

Also, student loan borrowers will be required to continue making payments on their debts.

[WATCH: Orlando International Airport suffers delays over ATC shortage]

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare funding will not be affected by the shutdown. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says some services, however, will be suspended, including oversight of major contractors, like the Medicare Call Center, mailing of Medicare cards and other documents, and outreach and education activities.

CMS says it has sufficient funds for Medicaid through the first quarter of the fiscal year and will maintain staff to make payments for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Federal health care marketplace activities will also continue.

Housing assistance

Grants for federal housing programs that were already obligated are still available, and disaster recovery assistance programs remain funded.

Any obligated payments for housing and rental assistance programs will continue.

Full details are in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s contingency plan.

Veteran care

Medical care and critical services for veterans will continue, including caregiver support, homelessness programs, crisis lines, insurance processing, and benefit claims processing and payments.

Some operational functions within the VA will be suspended. Also, call centers for the GI Bill and the National Cemetery Applicant Assistance line will be closed. VA benefits regional offices will also close.

The VA will also pause transition program assistance and career counseling.

For a complete list, check out the VA contingency plan.

Federal employees

Thousands of federal employees are still working without pay during the shutdown.

[WATCH: Orlando International Airport collecting food for federal employees working with no pay]

Roughly 730,000 federal workers have been deemed essential and continue to work in just about every agency.

According to the Federal News Network, the White House was able to tap $5.3 billion from Department of Defense accounts to fund military members for this pay period. It’s not known if the government will find the money to pay military members on Nov. 15.