The South Carolina Department of Social Services says in a press release it will issue February SNAP benefits early and no additional benefits will be issued during the month, even if the government re-opens.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who received benefits in January and are eligible for ongoing benefits in February will receive their February benefits on their EBT card on January 17, according to the press release. This will impact about 231,000 households.
“This is not a bonus payment. SNAP recipients will not receive another benefit in February, even if the federal government reopens,” the release states. “Households are strongly encouraged to carefully plan and budget their benefits accordingly.”
DSS has been instructed by the USDA “to continue to accept and process new applications and recertifications as normal. The majority of recipients whose SNAP benefits are due for recertification this month will not be included in the January 17 issuance,” according to the release. “Any SNAP recipient whose recertification is approved after January 16 will receive their February benefits on their normal monthly issuance date in February. All program rules, including verification of income, are not waived because of this early issuance process.”
Recipients can contact their local DSS office or DSS Connect at 1-800-616-1309 with questions.