WV SNAP recipients have received their full November benefits, Morrisey says

by Amelia Ferrell Knisely and Lori Kersey, West Virginia Watch
November 13, 2025

After nearly two weeks of delay during the federal government shutdown, West Virginia food stamp recipients received their full November benefits Thursday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said. 

Morrisey made the announcement in a news release Thursday afternoon. Earlier Thursday, he had said the benefits would come either Thursday or first thing Friday.

“The one thing I made clear from the start was that no one was going to go hungry,” Morrisey said in the news release. “The Schumer Shutdown hurt a lot of people both here and around the country, but when we were tested, our people rose to the occasion.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps, helps feed about 275,000 — or one in six — West Virginia residents. Benefits for November have been delayed since Nov. 1 because of the shutdown.

Morrisey’s announcement comes after Congress approved legislation reopening the federal government, ending the longest federal government shutdown in United States history. Trump signed the bill into law Wednesday evening, which included full SNAP benefits in November but also for the remainder of the federal fiscal year.

There was a series of court battles over SNAP after lower courts ordered the United States Department of Agriculture to fully fund benefits during the shutdown, but the Trump administration appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to avoid full benefits payments.

In the last 14 days, all but 11 states issued full or partial SNAP benefits to at least some recipients, the Associated Press reported. West Virginia hadn’t yet delivered any benefits, and Morrisey pointed to technology issues with SNAP processors as part of the delay.

During the delay, the state of West Virginia contributed about $13 million to food banks in the state as the state’s charitable food network saw an increased demand. Morrisey also activated the West Virginia National Guard to assist in food distribution and other efforts. 

“We’ve been involved helping every West Virginian in need of it to make sure no one goes hungry,” Morrisey said. “We had a system where no one goes hungry. That matters in West Virginia. I want to thank everyone involved for the successful effort over the last 13 days.”

Morrisey has also encouraged West Virginians in need to call 211 to be connected with resources. According to call center data, more than 2,600 requests for food came into the state’s 211 call center between Nov. 1 through Wednesday, compared to 146 during the same time frame last year. 

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