Food Assistance Distributed To Iowans Early Due To Shutdown

State officials have announced that those people who are beneficiaries of food assistance programs in Iowa will get their February benefits early, due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Iowa Department of Human Services says February benefits for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food assistance programs will be available to recipients Thursday. The DHS is advising the more than 335,000 SNAP recipients in Iowa to budget wisely to make it last through the end of February because should the shutdown continue beyond February, officials cannot guarantee the distribution of these benefits

They note they are working on contingency plans to help those who rely on them.

As we noted earlier this week, the longer this government shutdown goes on, the more closely its effects are going to be felt by Iowans. There are still conflicting reports as to how quickly tax filers will be able to receive their refunds, and now folks depending on food assistance are looking at possible issues with their benefits.

Let's hope the government finally gets back to work soon.

[Via Gazette via Washington Post]