SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — Participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have gone five days without November benefits as the longest federal government shutdown in United States history drags on.

SNAP eligibility workers, like Valarie Stevens, are tasked with helping people sign up for SNAP and assisting with other benefit programs.

During this time of uncertainty over the status of benefits, Stevens said a steady stream of clients coming in has turned into a flood.

SEE ALSO | White House retracts Trump’s SNAP threat, but it’s still murky on when funding will arrive

“There has been an increase in people coming into our office due to not receiving their SNAP benefits and wanting to know what to do,” Stevens said.

She said that the Oregon Dept. of Human Services (ODHS) has canceled staff meetings and brought remote workers into the office to ensure there are enough people to meet the growing need.

According to Stevens, the biggest worry for her clients is trying to stretch their food budget until benefits resume.

“People are worried they won’t have enough food to last the whole month,” Stevens said. “Most staff recipients live paycheck-to-paycheck. So missing a month of SNAP is throwing their whole budget off.”

The most essential thing eligibility workers are doing at this time is ensuring that clients understand what to expect and what to do next.

Stevens said her primary focus is to ensure SNAP recipients continue to renew their benefits, even as the federal government shutdown persists.

“The biggest risk would be that people might get discouraged when they don’t receive their November benefit and stop renewing their SNAP or never apply in the first place if they need it, but they heard that SNAP was shut down. They need to realize it’s temporary,” Stevens said.

PAST COVERAGE | Portland-area families struggle to put food on the table during SNAP suspension

According to Stevens, if SNAP participants do not renew their case or if they fail to complete their application if they aren’t already receiving SNAP, their case will be shut down, and they’ll have to reapply later.

“Every day you don’t fill out the paperwork means you’ll have less SNAP available later once the funding comes back. You may miss out on some benefits if you don’t fill out your paperwork,” said Stevens.

For Stevens, this work is personal. She understands the importance of such programs firsthand.

“I’ve been on SNAP myself when I was out of work,” said Stevens. “Without it, there would have been a year where I wouldn’t have been able to get enough to eat, and I wouldn’t have been able to get my prescriptions.”

READ ALSO | Oregon food banks overwhelmed as SNAP benefits halt amid federal shutdown

Even with the extra workload, Stevens’ team remains focused on its mission to make sure no one feels left without options.

She said the information available changes daily, so people shouldn’t hesitate to check in and see what their options are.

“There are a lot of businesses and organizations that are like our office that are trying to pitch in more and hold more resources available for people. It’s going to change on a day-to-day basis, so please come in if you need help, and we’ll find you something to make sure that you don’t go hungry,” Stevens said.

What is the current status of November SNAP benefits?

The Oregon Department of Human Services announced on Tuesday that the state has not yet received its share of federal emergency contingency funds from the federal government.

KATU followed up with the state agency on Wednesday regarding the status of those federal funds. A spokesperson for ODHS stated that there is no update, as the state has not yet received funding from the federal government.

ODHS received guidance from the USDA on Tuesday to issue 50% of November benefits to eligible households once that funding arrives.

However, ODHS stated that there is no timeline for distributing benefits to participants. This is because the SNAP program in many states, such as Oregon, is currently unable to issue partial benefits.

“While the federal guidance specifies a 50 percent benefit level, it is not a simple or automatic calculation. It will take time for ODHS and our partners to make the technical updates and coordination needed to issue benefits accurately and fairly,” said an ODHS spokesperson on Tuesday.

A top USDA official stated in court documents on Monday that the federal agency expects SNAP participants in some states to wait weeks or even months for their benefits to be processed.

“For at least some States, USDA’s understanding is that the system changes States must implement to provide the reduced benefit amounts will take anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months,” stated USDA official Patrick Penn.

The states that would be most impacted were not named in this court document.

Oregon ranks third in the United States in the percentage of a state’s population that relies on SNAP. Over 700,000 Oregonians participate in the SNAP program, which accounts for approximately one in six Oregonians.

Resources for SNAP participants

Stevens said there are several local and state resources available for Oregonians awaiting the resumption of their SNAP benefits.

ODHS recommends visiting needfood.oregon.gov, which lists nearby food banks, pantries, and free meal events organized across the state.

Residents can also call 211 or visit 211.org to connect with community organizations offering food, housing, and other support.

Stevens said people needing more immediate help can stop by their local ODHS office, where staff can share updated lists of food distribution and other emergency resources available in their community.

Several local restaurants, farmers’ markets, and other businesses are providing free meals and other resources to SNAP recipients.