‘It breaks my heart’: SNAP freeze, ripple effects strain Central Virginians

LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Jennifer Cushman, a working single mother of two in Louisa County, said the nearly eight-week federal government shutdown has made feeding her children a daily struggle.

"Things that I’ve worked for for a year are gone now," she said. "I’ve maxed my credit card out to pay for food."

Cushman, who has an 11-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son with special needs, has relied on federal food aid for the past 13 years. However, since the shutdown began, that help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has not arrived.

"I’m frustrated... and there’s people in a much worse situation than I am. If they don’t have their SNAP, they’re not eating — and maybe one or two days is one thing," she said. "Forty-three days later, that’s not okay."

Cushman said she hasn't received any benefits since Oct. 7.

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) said Wednesday that SNAP recipients will receive 65% of their regular monthly benefits by Thursday, Nov. 13.

Still, Cushman said the financial burden of going without SNAP will be felt for some time, even if benefits returned immediately.

"Here we are, one of the richest countries in the world. Why is it taking 41, 42, 43 [or] however many days we’re in to fix this?" Cushman added.

With the holidays approaching, Cushman said she's worried about the impact on her children.

"I’ve noticed my kids tend to skip meals a little bit more because I think they think that it’s not going to be there… and it breaks my heart because I’m like, 'We’re not there yet," she said. "And if anybody was going to skip it, it would be mom."

The VDSS said SNAP recipients will receive partial benefits starting Thursday, and any emergency payments through the Virginia Energy Assistance Program (VENA) will not reduce those benefits.