How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Despite federal court opinions handed down on Friday ruling that billions of dollars in food benefits must be released as the government shutdown continues, Lake County Social Services said the food assistance remains delayed.
Two separate lawsuits resulted in the Friday decisionshttps://lakeconews.com/news/82991-federal-courts-rule-that-snap-benefits-must-be-released-delay-in-food-assistance-still-anticipatedthat found the funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, should be released, and that the government was statutorily required to do so.
That’s because Congress appropriated $6 billion in SNAP contingency funds for the U.S. Department of Agriculture through September 2026.
In addition, one of the decisions — resulting from a lawsuit filed by 25 states including California — found that the USDA also has discretion to use $23 billion in Section 32 funds — from an account set up 90 years ago — for SNAP.
Section 32 funds are in a permanent account, the Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply, that’s part of a mandatory appropriation Congress created in August of 1935 to support certain agricultural commodities programs.
One of the established allocations is for domestic food assistance programs like SNAP, as well as child nutrition programs. More information is here.
Despite the orders to release the funds, on Monday the Trump administration indicated it will only pay half of the SNAP benefits for November.
Lake County Social Services Director Rachael Dillman Parsons on Monday released an update on the local situation, explaining that the benefits for CalFresh, which is California’s version of SNAP, are still delayed.
That delay will impact 24% of Lake County’s residents, or 16,320 people, who use SNAP/CalFresh, according to Social Services.
Dillman Parsons’ update explained that benefits will not be issued until USDA releases funds and instructions to states.
“If USDA releases partial funds, state systems will need to be reprogrammed,” she explained.
As a result, she said any partial CalFresh benefits released by USDA may not be issued until Mid-November.
“Your local county welfare department cannot change this,” Dillman Parsons said. “We realize these are difficult times.”
Those who need food now are urged to see the food resource list pinned to the top of the Lake County Social Services Facebook page. That list is also published below.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a discussion with Dillman Parsons, other county staff and community members about the situation during Tuesday’s board meeting.
At that time, Dillman Parsons is expected to offer some potential options to mitigating the impact on the county’s most vulnerable residents.
She also is meeting this week with local food pantries and food banks to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
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