More than 40 million Americans will stop receiving food stamps on November 1 as the US government shutdown enters its fifth week.
The Department of Agriculture says the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) will be suspended until Congress reopens the government. Although the Trump administration argues the department does not have the legal authority to use the $5 billion emergency fund to continue aid, Democrats disagree, and two dozen states sued government to force the program to continue.
Meanwhile, Democrats are also refusing to vote to end the shutdown because health insurance costs will grow sharply as insurers prepare to end subsidies. Senate Democrats are demanding that any short-term government funding deal include an extension of expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans, while Trump and Republicans have said they won't negotiate until the government gets back to work. Expanding subsidies would require $350 billion in federal spending over the next decade.
We'd like to hear from Americans who are about to lose Snap food assistance due to the closure, as well as people whose health care may become unaffordable due to rising insurance premiums. Have you received any notice or documentation that your insurance coverage is about to change? Tell us.
Share your experience
Tell us how you might be affected by the looming loss of Snap food assistance due to the US government shutdown, as well as rising health insurance costs if subsidies are not extended.
