Nov. 18, 2025:
The South Dakota Department of Social Services has issued the remainder of the November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits this week.
DSS began processing the approximately 37,000 SNAP cases over the weekend and benefits are expected to be available Tuesday (Nov. 18, 2025). SNAP recipients can check their balances through the SNAP app or portal.
DSS says about $8 million in partial SNAP benefits were issued last week and the two payments issued will equal the full November benefit amount for which a household has qualified.
December SNAP benefits are expected to be issued, as normal, on Dec. 10.
Any updates will be posted on DSS’s website at dss.sd.gov and shared through its social media channels.
Nov. 12, 2025:
The South Dakota Department of Social Services has finished processing partial benefits for all eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. Those dollars were loaded onto Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards overnight Tuesday night (Nov. 11-12, 2025).
SNAP recipients are encouraged to check their balances through the EBT app or portal.
According to DSS, the partial benefit amounts are based on guidance received from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) earlier this month (Nov. 8, 2025). This does not change how each of the 37,000 eligible household’s benefits are calculated under federal rules. Therefore, amounts received by beneficiaries will vary.
When the federal shutdown ends and all benefits are restored, DSS plans to issue the equivalent of remaining payments through a second installment of SNAP benefits. The first and second issuances will comprise the full November benefit.
DSS’s implementation of FNS’s partial benefit plan involved processing all cases before benefits could be loaded onto EBT cards. Processing continued through the Veteran’s Day holiday.
Nov. 11, 2025:
South Dakotans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program– or SNAP– benefits should receive at least some of their monthly allotment yet this week.
On Monday (Nov. 10, 2025), the South Dakota Department of Social Services told DRG Media Group that depending on congressional action, November SNAP benefits– either partial or full– will be issued later this week.
DSS Secretary Matt Althoff says his agency understands the importance of these benefits to South Dakota families and is working diligently to minimize any further delays. He anticipates the process of receiving federal approval and system programming will take several days to complete.
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Nov. 10, 2025:
In South Dakota, the Department of Social Services has paused implementation of its plan to provide full benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program– SNAP– recipients by Nov. 10.
According to a news release, the pause results from “a United States Supreme Court’s ‘administrative stay’ of a lower court’s ruling that was issued late Friday (Nov. 7, 2025) evening.” DSS is waiting for further instruction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services before resuming SNAP’s implementation.
The Department of Social Services will provide updates regarding SNAP distribution as it receives more information.
Nov. 7, 2025:
The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) will be issuing the full allotment of SNAP benefits to enrolled recipients in November. DSS is projecting a payment date of Monday, November 10, 2025, – the normal date recipients receive benefits. If there are delays, they will be communicated as soon as they are known.
“We understand how important these benefits are to families across South Dakota,” said Matt Althoff, DSS Cabinet Secretary. “Knowing this reliance, there is a relief within our department that the federal shutdown will not impact the families who have qualified for the aid we administer. SNAP administration is one of DSS’s core responsibilities because of the access to food – a basic need – for those who need it most.”
DSS has been closely monitoring the ongoing litigation and awaiting payment guidance from federal Food and Nutrition Services (FNS). The department received confirmation today that full benefits will be issued. Once official notice is received from FNS that funds are available for distribution, DSS will proceed accordingly with the goal of issuing benefits to approximately 37,000 South Dakota households by the normal SNAP benefit date of the 10th of the month.
In September, South Dakota’s average household benefit amount was approximately $390. Total SNAP benefits paid in the same month was nearly $15 million.
The threat of the SNAP benefits being disrupted by the federal shutdown has generated a tremendous response from feeding ministries and South Dakotans who financially support them. Many grocers and retailers have also extended relief through discounted meals and gift cards. DSS extends its sincere appreciation and gratitude for this generous response. This charitable giving has been directed to the same segment of our population that is served daily by DSS.
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