The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that most Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients will receive their February benefits on Sunday, Jan. 20 instead of their normal dates in February.

A DHW press release cited the partial federal government shutdown as the reason for the change.

“Everyone who is eligible for SNAP benefits in February will receive their benefits,” said DHW spokesman Niki Forbing-Orr.

Households whose benefits were re-evaluated and approved by Jan. 15 will receive their February food stamps on Jan. 20.

The change will not impact households that complete a re-evaluation and are approved after Jan. 15. Their February benefits will be issued on their regular issuance dates, Forbing-Orr said.

Those who receive their February benefits on Jan. 20 need to budget their funds to last until their regular issuance date in March.

“Households that receive their February benefits in January will not receive an additional issuance in February. Recipients are encouraged to budget their food stamps to last until they receive their March benefits,” Forbing-Orr said.

Post Falls Food Bank executive director Leslie Orth said she doesn’t expect the hiccup to affect her clientele.

“The residents on SNAP already use the Post Falls Food Bank,” she said. “We provide a certain number of monthly points to shop in our 3rd Avenue Market. Our registered guests may shop every week. If they have run out of points during the month, they are welcome to continue to shop, but may purchase only zero point items. However, these items include fresh produce, bakery, yogurt, and fresh deli products. All our guests leave the market with a basketful of food every week.”

Forbing-Orr added that DHW will accept and process SNAP applications at its normal pace, and doesn’t anticipate any delays in SNAP issuance through February.

For more information on the early issuance or SNAP benefits in general, call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 in Idaho or the Self-Reliance call center at 1-877-456-1233.