WILL OPEN AS SOON AS THE
PRESIDENT STOPS INCYSTING ON $5
BILLION TO BUILD A BORDER WALL.
THE PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
IS BEGINNING TO EFFECT SERVICES
LIKE FOOD STAMPS.
JOHN DELANO REPORTS ON HOW A
LOOPHOLE COULD HELP PEOPLE FROM
GOING HUNGRY DURING THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
Reporter: ONE OUT OF EIGHT
PENNSYLVANIANS ARE ON FOOD
STAMPS OR SNAP MAKING THIS
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN A DIRECT
THREAT TO ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAMS
HOW WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE
ENOUGH TO EAT.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH BUT IT IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD
SAFETY NET.
Reporter: HE SAYS MANY SNAP
RECIPIENTS ARE FULL TIME
WORKERS AT LOW WAGES AND THE
AVERAGE DOLLAR AMOUNT RECEIVED
EACH MONTH IS $120 A MONTH.
WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
1.8 MILLION PENNSYLVANIANS
WOULD LOSE THEIR FOOD STAMPS IN
FEBRUARY BUT THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
FOUND A LOOPHOLE SO THE
FEBRUARY BENEFITS COULD BE
AWARDED IN JANUARY.
FEBRUARY BENEFITS FOR THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WILL BE
DISPERSED ON JANUARY 18 SO THIS
COMING FRIDAY AND THEN
AVAILABLE ON JANUARY 19.
Reporter: PENNSYLVANIA HUMAN
SERVICES SECRETARY SAYS PEOPLE
MAY BE SURPRISED TO SEE MORE
MONEY THIS WEEKEND.
IT IS NOT EXTRA MONEY, IT
WILL BE THE ONLY BENEFIT
PAYMENT THAT SNAP RECIPIENTS
WILL RECEIVE FOR FEBRUARY.
Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS
BUDGET THE MONEY CAREFULLY
BECAUSE ONCE THIS MONEY IS
GONE, THERE IS NO MORE FOR
MARCH.
UNLESS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
CONGRESS END THE GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN.
MANY BUDGET THEIR MONEY THAN
AFFLUENT AMERICANS DO.
WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS
PEOPLE WILL BE CONFUSED BY A
CHANGE IN THE NORM.
Reporter: EVERY RECIPIENT
WILL RECEIVE NOTICE ABOUT THIS
BUT WITH THE GOVERNMENT
