Wisconsin FoodShare members will see their full November benefits restored after a federal court late Wednesday ordered the release of billions in available SNAP funding that had been withheld during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Within hours of the ruling, it was announced that Governor Tony Evers had moved immediately to implement the order and process full payments for nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites.
The federal government shutdown had states suspending food assistance payments, leaving hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin families, including nearly 270,000 children, without access to essential groceries when state FoodShare funding ran dry on November 1. The lapse forced families to scramble as the shutdown stretched into its 37th day, the longest in U.S. history.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, full November FoodShare benefits were expected to begin appearing on member accounts overnight, barring any vendor processing issues or further federal action.
Gov. Evers sharply criticized the federal delay, calling the situation avoidable. The governor noted that the state had joined a lawsuit last week seeking to force federal officials to release existing SNAP funds. While a previous court order required partial payments by November 5, the federal government failed to comply, prompting Wednesday’s more sweeping mandate for full benefits. Evers emphasized that while the ruling provides immediate relief, it does not solve the underlying crisis. Evers is urging congressional Republicans to work across the aisle to end the shutdown.
On Friday, the governor also signed Executive Order #278, declaring a state of emergency to protect families from price gouging and ensure access to essential resources amid the prolonged shutdown.
Residents in need of additional support are encouraged to contact 211 for local food resources and assistance. DHS also urges FoodShare and Medicaid members to keep their contact information updated through ACCESS.wi.gov. WIC benefits remain available for November, and Medicaid and BadgerCare Plus coverage continues uninterrupted.
