County offices to remain open, workers to stay on until at least Nov. 22; additional impacts possible then if shutdown continues

(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) is working to update November benefit amounts for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients using updated guidelines provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, and will provide these benefits as quickly as possible. However, this process requires significant work that is ongoing, and no issuance date has yet been finalized.

Additionally, because USDA provided administrative funds for the SNAP program for November, DHS will delay furloughs and county office closures that previously were set to go into effect after this Friday. These furloughs and closures, which involve approximately 1,500 staff members within the DHS Division of County Operations and offices in every county in the state, will be delayed until at least Nov. 22 if the federal government shutdown is continuing at that time. The federal administrative funding provided for November will allow these employees to continue working SNAP applications and renewals until that date. 

“This is now the longest federal government shutdown in the history of our country, and the impacts are devastating,” said DHS Secretary Janet Mann. “Those voting against reopening our government are opting to take food away from vulnerable families and to send critically important employees home without pay as we enter the holiday season. We are sickened to be placed in this position, and continue to stress that reopening needs to happen immediately.”

In addition to the previously announced furloughs and closures, there will be more impacts in other Divisions and programs that may also occur as early as Nov. 22 if the shutdown remains in effect. DHS is continuing to analyze the extent of those impacts, and will confirm details and dates as they are determined.

DHS is continuing to advise Arkansans to check on friends, family, and neighbors, and for those in need of immediate food assistance to reach out to local foodbanks, churches, and community organizations for help. HelpArkansas.com has been established to provide links to the regional food banks that serve every county in Arkansas.

“This is a tremendous resource for families in need as well as families who are able to help,” Mann said. “Beneficiaries who normally rely on SNAP can use this website to find assistance in their community. And those who are able can find ways to donate time, food, or money. These are difficult times, and it will take all of us taking care of one another to get through them.”

The guidance from USDA did not change other impacts that DHS announced last week and that are already in effect. These include:  

●    Funds administered to community partners through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) programs were suspended, and partner agencies were directed to cease services reliant on federal funding provided through DHS and to hold all invoices. This includes funds that support programs within the Arkansas Department of Education, Area Agencies on Aging, Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission, Community Action Agencies, the Division of Services for the Blind, and multiple TANF subgrantees.

●    34 additional employees within the DHS Office of Payment Integrity, the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services, and the Division of County Operations were placed on furlough due to a lapse in funding. These furloughs were in addition to 37 employees within the Division of Provider Services and Quality Assurance who have been furloughed since the beginning of the shutdown, and who remain furloughed now.

●    Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA)/Work Pays cash assistance programs were suspended for newly approved beneficiaries.

DHS will continue to monitor the impact of the shutdown, and provide updates on additional impacts as they occur. Beneficiaries can check for updates by visiting ar.gov/SNAP and humanservices.arkansas.gov/u/shutdownimpacts/