EBT Payment Schedule Changes for November 2025: Key Dates, Higher Benefits, and How to Check Your Balance

Millions of Americans who rely on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy groceries face fresh uncertainty as the federal government shutdown stretches toward November. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) warned that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) “has funding available for benefits and operations through October 31, 2025” but cannot guarantee payments after that date without congressional action. What happens on November 1? • If lawmakers fail to pass a funding bill, states will be unable to load November SNAP benefits onto EBT cards. The USDA has already notified state agencies that it “won’t use emergency funds” to cover the gap. • Some states, including Georgia and Mississippi, have urged households to budget remaining October benefits carefully, warning that EBT cards may stop working at the start of November. How many people could be affected? Roughly 40 million residents receive SNAP each month. The average household benefit is about $293, according to USDA data. A funding lapse would not only halt November deposits, it could also interrupt new EBT card issuances and balance corrections, leaving grocery retailers uncertain whether transactions will be honored. Steps recipients can take now 1. Check your current EBT balance through your state’s online portal or the phone number on the back of the card. 2. Plan meals and stretch benefits through October 31. Stock up on shelf-stable items that qualify for SNAP—such as rice, beans, canned vegetables, and frozen meats—before the shutdown deadline. 3. Explore backup resources like food banks, church pantries, and WIC clinics; many organizations are preparing emergency boxes in anticipation of increased demand. 4. Sign up for text or email alerts from your state human-services department for real-time updates on EBT disbursements. Retailers brace for ripple effects Supermarkets that process high volumes of SNAP transactions worry about revenue losses and potential checkout disruptions if EBT systems are disabled. Several chains have begun training cashiers on how to handle declined EBT payments and advising customers about alternative payment options, according to the Food Marketing Institute. What to watch on Capitol Hill Lawmakers have two pathways to avert the crisis: approve a full-year agriculture appropriation or pass a short-term continuing resolution that explicitly funds SNAP. As partisan negotiations drag on, advocacy groups urge constituents to call their representatives and demand immediate action to “keep food on the table.” Bottom line Unless Congress moves quickly, EBT cards could stop working nationwide on November 1, placing millions of low-income families at risk of food insecurity. Check your balance, conserve remaining funds, and monitor official state and USDA channels for the latest on SNAP benefit delivery.