Image by Cecilia Lopez

California Department of Social Services updated its frequently asked questions page last Thursday, fielding questions pertaining to the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on nutritional assistance programs.

The department’s updated questions state that November CalFresh benefits will be delayed in November due to the ongoing shutdown. The update informed users that EBT cards with existing benefits will still be usable throughout the shutdown, but that funding for November has not been provided by the federal government.

CalFresh is the state’s name for the government-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Also on Thursday, the Central California Food Bank warned that more than half-a-million people in its five-state service region would lose benefits for November.

“About 720,000 individuals in the five-county service area that we serve that rely on SNAP to be able to go to the grocery store, purchase healthy food and feed their families during the month,” Central California Food Bank CEO Natalie Caples told ABC30 Thursday. “There is a possibility that SNAP benefits for those 720,000 individuals could be delayed.”

The prolonged shutdown threatens to create a surge in demand for food assistance providers like the food bank.

Over the weekend, California National Guard troops deployed by Governor Gavin Newsom arrived in Los Angeles to provide assistance distributing food to Californians in need.

Additional details about national guard-assisted efforts are expected in the coming week.

The Central California Food Bank stated that it is unlikely to utilize assistance from the national guard.

The Department of Social Services frequently asked questions page states that county social services offices remain open and also provided readers with resources to find local food banks throughout the state.

CalWORKs benefits, a service that provides a range of services to eligible low-income families with children, are unlikely to be affected in November, however, the department said that an ongoing shutdown may affect December benefits.