NC & SC Early Issuance of February SNAP Benefits

On January 8, USDA announced that–in order to ensure that SNAP participants receive a February benefit in the wake of the federal government shutdown–all states must issue February SNAP benefits on or before January 20, 2019. See the notice here.

States must submit their plans to USDA FNS by Monday, January 14. States can opt to issue early February benefits on a staggered schedule or issue all benefits on the same day. All benefits must be issued on or by January 20.

After these early February benefits are issued, SNAP customers will not receive any benefits until March. CFIC will email consumer education signage to display in stores. Please note that North Carolina’s issuance schedule runs from the 3^rd to the 21^st of each month, meaning that some participants may get their February benefit prior to receiving their January benefits. South Carolina’s distribution schedule runs from the 1^st to the 19^th of each month.

CFIC will email its members with additional information about how each state will issue these early benefits.