Government Shutdown & BCHHS Services

Government Shutdown & Anticipated Local Impacts to BCHHS Services

We have received many questions from the public about possible changes to benefits and services provided by BCHHS. Here is an overview of how the federal government shutdown impacts the following services. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) / Food Stamps

• While the Farm Bill was passed at the end of last year, federal funding is still impacted because the Department of Agriculture’s appropriations bill has yet to be signed into law.
• Eligible households will still receive monthly SNAP benefits for the month of February. Funding is available for state administrative expenses through the end of February.
• In North Carolina, there is sufficient funding for SNAP through mid-March and programs should operate as normal.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

• WIC can continue to operate at the state and local level with any funding and commodity resources that remain available. 
• In North Carolina, WIC will continue to operate as normal through mid-February.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

• TANF has yet to be reauthorized and has expired with no new funding.
• NCDHHS has informed counties that there is sufficient funding for TANF through at least part of February. Programs and services should operate as usual.

Child Care Development Fund (CCDF)

• The mandatory/matching portion of CCDF has expired with no new funding.
• There is CCDF funding for child care subsidies for several months in North Carolina.

We will continue to keep the public and community partners updated on developments related to the services that we provide. Please call the BCHHS Call Center at (828)250-5500 with any questions you might have about these benefits and services. 

Updated on Jan 10, 2019