People with low incomes who rely on California’s largest food program will likely be affected starting next month if the federal shutdown continues, officials are warning. It’s one of several safety net programs facing a funding cliff if the shutdown — which has shown no sign of ending — drags on.
Well over 1 million people in L.A. County get food benefits from CalFresh — the state’s implementation of the federally funded SNAP program. It provides monthly food benefits to low-income people through debit cards that can be used at grocery stores and farmer’s markets that accept them.
Those benefits are secured for October. But if Congress doesn’t reach a deal, funding for those benefits will be disrupted starting next month, according to the county. Federal authorities told states last week that there’s not enough money to pay full SNAP benefits for November if the shutdown continues, and to not load money onto recipients’ cards for November until further notice…