Federal Govt Shutdown Local Impact
Meeker County officials want to get some information out to the public regarding the status of various programs that are being impacted by the federal government shutdown. Meeker County is working on coordinating with several community partners and are also keeping their website and social media up to date as information inevitably changes.
The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) has announced that if the federal government shutdown continues into November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will not have enough funds to issue November SNAP benefits.
As of October 16th, Meeker County – like other counties and tribal nations across Minnesota -cannot approve new or pending SNAP applications until further notice. Residents who already receive SNAP benefits before October 16th can continue to use them as usual. Applications approved by October 15th will still receive October benefits. You can still apply for assistance through MNbenefits.mn.gov, but new SNAP approvals will be paused until funding resumes.
If the shutdown continues into November, SNAP and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits will not be issued for that month. MFIP applications can be approved through Wednesday, October 29, but not beyond that date if the shutdown continues.
WIC (Women, Infants & Children) remains open and operating as of Oct. 15. WIC recipients should keep their appointments, continue shopping with their eWIC card, and use benefits as normal. For local food resources, visit the Meeker County website or contact Meeker County Health and Human Services at 320-693-5300 for assistance.
Meeker County will continue to share updates as new information becomes available, and thanks everyone for their patience and understanding as we navigate this situation together.
If the shutdown continues into November, SNAP and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits will not be issued for that month. MFIP applications can be approved through Wednesday, October 29, but not beyond that date if the shutdown continues.
