ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Department of Human Services announced Nov. 7 that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers will receive a state supplemental benefit starting Nov. 11, under an emergency order issued by Gov. Wes Moore on Nov. 3 to address federal funding interruptions from the ongoing government shutdown.
The supplemental payment equals half of recipients’ October SNAP allotment and will load onto Maryland Independence electronic benefit transfer cards. Those who normally get benefits on or before Nov. 11 will see the addition that day. Others will receive it alongside their standard monthly issuance, which varies by case number: first-of-the-month recipients on the first, up to the 23rd for those ending in 9. The measure draws $62 million from the state’s Fiscal Responsibility Fund, a reserve established in 2018 to stabilize finances during revenue shortfalls, with a cap of 5 percent of general fund expenditures
The federal government halted full SNAP funding Nov. 1, citing the shutdown’s impact on U.S. Department of Agriculture operations. On Nov. 3, officials pledged only 50 percent of November benefits, prompting Moore’s order. A federal court ruling on Nov. 6 mandated full funding, but the administration appealed, leaving issuance uncertain amid shifting guidance. DHS will process new applications and renewals, but benefits for approvals dated after Oct. 31 remain withheld pending resolution.
“Maryland families shouldn’t have to suffer because the federal government chose to pause vital benefits,” said Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López. “The governor’s decisive action is helping prevent Maryland families from going hungry during this senseless government shutdown. We will move urgently to get Marylanders the SNAP benefits their families depend on to put food on the table.”
SNAP, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides debit-like EBT cards for groceries at authorized retailers, excluding hot foods or alcohol. Eligibility hinges on household income below 130 percent of the federal poverty level — $32,000 annually for a family of three in fiscal year 2026 — with benefits averaging $192 monthly per person in Maryland. The program reaches about 680,000 residents each month, or 11 percent of the population, including 270,000 children and 120,000 older adults, sustaining $1.3 billion in annual grocery purchases statewide.
In Southern Maryland’s Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, where agriculture and commuting shape local economies, SNAP supports roughly 25,000 households amid higher living costs tied to proximity to Washington. Charles County alone saw 18,000 participants in fiscal year 2024, fueling stores from Waldorf’s Food Lion to La Plata’s Giant, where benefits stretch further on staples like produce from nearby farms.
This supplemental builds on Moore’s Oct. 30 state of emergency declaration, which unlocked $10 million for food banks and pantries to distribute emergency boxes. That fund targets immediate needs, partnering with networks like the Capital Area Food Bank, which serves Southern Maryland from its Hyattsville hub and reported a 15 percent demand spike in October 2025. Unlike SNAP’s broad eligibility, these grants prioritize undocumented immigrants and others ineligible for federal aid, ensuring coverage gaps close quickly.
Other assistance programs remain operational. Temporary Cash Assistance delivers monthly checks for families with children, while Temporary Disability Assistance Program aids those unable to work due to illness. Public Assistance to Adults supports low-income singles, and Refugee Cash Assistance covers newcomers for eight months. Emergency aid for families with children provides one-time help for crises like evictions. These, funded through state and federal streams less tied to USDA, issue on schedule: TCA on the fifth through 15th, aligned with Social Security dates.
Maryland’s response echoes past shutdowns, like the 35-day 2018-2019 impasse, when SNAP benefits cleared via contingency funds but delayed reimbursements strained state budgets by $20 million. The Fiscal Responsibility Fund, seeded with surplus revenues, now holds about $1.2 billion, offering a buffer without tax hikes. Moore’s administration, in office since 2023, has prioritized food security through expansions like summer EBT for kids, reaching 400,000 children in 2024 and reducing summer hunger by 20 percent in pilot counties including St. Mary’s.
For residents, checking EBT balances online at mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us or calling 800-997-3333 ensures timely access. DHS urges updates to household details, as errors delay payments. In Southern Maryland, local offices in La Plata, Prince Frederick and Leonardtown process inquiries from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, with walk-ins for emergencies.
The shutdown, now in its second week, stems from congressional disputes over spending, freezing nonessential federal operations and furloughing 2 million workers. For SNAP, the USDA’s 7,000 employees handle claims, but automation covers basic loads during lulls. A resolution could restore full November benefits retroactively, but appeals may prolong uncertainty into December.
Maryland’s proactive funding underscores its role as a safety net innovator, drawing from the program’s 1964 origins under President Lyndon Johnson to combat poverty. Today, it lifts 4 million Americans above the poverty line annually, with Maryland’s 13.6 percent error rate in 2024 reflecting tight oversight.