Partial food assistance benefits available in North Dakota

1 hour ago

KVRR Staff,

Gpfb Food 1png 1536x1024 — The Great Plains Food Bank, which works with food pantries across North Dakota, prepared for a surge in demand after federal funding was disrupted in November. On Thursday, the state announced that partial benefits would begin flowing to some households enrolled in the federal program. (Photo courtesy of Great Plains Food Bank)

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services said some North Dakota residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be able to access partial November benefits as early as Friday.

The program started the month without funding due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. A federal judge last week ordered the executive branch to resume at least partial benefits. On Thursday, the same judge directed the President Donald Trump administration to fully fund the program for November.

“We know how important these benefits are to families and individuals across North Dakota,” Interim Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Pat Traynor said in a Thursday evening announcement. “Our team has been working diligently to update systems, recalculate benefits and ensure households receive their adjusted benefits as quickly as possible.”

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is distributing partial benefits to the roughly 28,000 North Dakota households on SNAP based on a formula set by the federal government that funds the program at 65%.

Under that formula, some households will receive less than their typically monthly benefit and some will receive no funding, according to the agency.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged in the Thursday announcement that the formula could soon change given the judge’s recent court order.

The agency said it is “prepared to comply with any new federal guidance from the USDA pending the outcome of ongoing court proceedings and once systems are updated.”

North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong last week announced the state had granted $915,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank to address food insecurity amid the funding distribution.

The federal government is now also fully funding the Women, Infants and Children program for November. North Dakota had previously planned to use $600,000 in Department of Health and Human Services general fund money to sustain the program through the month if no federal money was available.

Information about food assistance is available at hhs.nd.gov or greatplainsfoodbank.org. People can call the Health and Human Services Department for help at 701-328-1000.

North Dakota has created a website for government shutdown resources at ndresponse.gov/shutdownresources.

North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer can be reached at msteurer@northdakotamonitor.com.