The Maryland Department of Human Services announced Friday that the state will distribute 100 percent of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to recipients on their regular schedule beginning Nov. 18, restoring full access after a partial halt during the federal government shutdown.
The Trump administration’s decision to suspend SNAP funding on Nov. 1 prompted swift state intervention. Governor Wes Moore directed the release of state funds to cover at least 50 percent of November benefits for eligible households, averting a complete lapse for the program’s 680,000 participants statewide. By Nov. 13, Maryland had issued $46,941,257, reaching 217,842 households and representing half of the month’s allocation.
“Governor Moore made sure Maryland moved urgently to leave no one behind throughout the Trump Administration shutdown,” Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López said. “The governor’s decisive actions prevented Maryland families from going hungry while the Trump Administration fought to withhold these lifesaving benefits.”
Distribution resumes with tailored timing to minimize disruption. Households accustomed to receiving benefits before Nov. 18 will get their remaining 50 percent on that date, following the initial partial payment on their standard issuance day. Those scheduled for Nov. 18 or later will receive the full amount as usual, loaded onto existing Electronic Benefits Transfer cards for use at authorized retailers.
This follows an Oct. 30 emergency declaration by Moore, which unlocked $10 million from the Fiscal Responsibility Fund to bolster food distribution through local pantries and soup kitchens amid the shutdown’s onset. On Nov. 3, the governor committed an additional $62 million in state resources to guarantee complete November SNAP payouts, covering the federal shortfall until congressional action reopened government operations earlier this week.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, administered federally through the U.S. Department of Agriculture but managed at the state level, provides monthly debit-like aid for groceries to low-income individuals and families. In Maryland, eligibility hinges on household income below 130 percent of the federal poverty line, with benefits calculated via a formula subtracting 30 percent of countable earnings from the maximum allotment — $291 for a single person up to $1,751 for a household of eight in fiscal 2026.
Southern Maryland, encompassing Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, counts about 33,407 average monthly SNAP participants as of mid-2025, or roughly one in 10 residents across the region’s 170,000 population. In St. Mary’s County alone, 10,993 individuals received aid in May 2025, supporting families in areas like Leonardtown and Lexington Park where food costs run 5 percent above the state average due to reliance on imported goods via the Potomac River ports. Calvert County’s 7,348 recipients as of early 2025 face similar pressures in Prince Frederick, where rural food deserts limit access to fresh produce beyond major chains like Walmart in Prince Frederick.
The shutdown’s ripple effects strained local networks immediately. St. Mary’s County organizations, including the Southern Maryland Food Bank, ramped up emergency distributions in late October, serving an extra 2,000 households weekly from pantries in Callaway and Charlotte Hall. Charles County reported a 15 percent uptick in calls to its human services hotline from Waldorf residents querying benefit status, while Calvert’s community action agency in Prince Frederick extended hours for application assistance.
Maryland’s response builds on protocols refined during the 2018-2019 shutdown, when the state fronted $125 million for uninterrupted SNAP flow, later reimbursed by Congress. This time, the 18-day closure — triggered by disputes over spending bills — delayed federal contingency funds, forcing states to tap reserves or issue IOUs. Moore’s administration prioritized vulnerable groups, including 270,000 children statewide who comprise nearly 40 percent of recipients, many in Southern Maryland’s military families tied to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
Officials urge ongoing vigilance against scams, recommending the EBT card’s lock-unlock feature to prevent theft. Residents can verify eligibility or update details — such as address changes affecting issuance — through the myDHR portal, where applications process within 30 days for most, or seven for emergencies. Southern Maryland applicants often qualify via streamlined interviews at local offices in La Plata, Leonardtown or Prince Frederick, integrating with programs like Temporary Cash Assistance for broader support.
Marylanders facing delays should contact the DHS hotline at 1-800-332-6347 or visit county service centers for personalized guidance.