Notice
This guidance was updated Nov. 13, 2025. Please see SNAP Benefit Issuance and the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 for the latest information.
| DATE: | November 8, 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| SUBJECT: | Updated Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) November Benefit Issuance | |
| TO: | Regional Directors SNAP Division All Regions | SNAP State Agency Directors All State Agencies |
This memorandum is a follow up to the guidance shared on Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 4, Nov. 5, and Nov. 7, 2025, regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November 2025.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted the U.S. Department of Agriculture an administrative stay of the orders issued by the District Court of Rhode Island in Rhode Island State Council of Churches, et al. v. Rollins, 25-cv-569. Pending any explicit direction to the contrary from Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), states must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors. Instead, states must continue to process and load the partial issuance files that reflect the 35% reduction of maximum allotments detailed in the Nov. 5 guidance.
To the extent states sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, states must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025. Please advise the appropriate FNS regional office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum.
Per 7 CFR 271.7(h), failure to comply with this memorandum may result in USDA taking various actions, including cancellation of the federal share of state administrative costs and holding states liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.
We are committed to keeping you as up to date as possible and appreciate your continued partnership to serve program beneficiaries across the country. State agencies with questions should contact their FNS regional office representative.
Sincerely,
Patrick A. Penn
Deputy Under Secretary
Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
U.S. Department of Agriculture