Chautauqua County staff told the Human Services Committee on Nov. 12 that state and county actions allowed SNAP benefits for November to be distributed to local recipients despite a federal government shutdown, but that HEAP funding remains uncertain pending federal action.

Carmela Hernandez, commissioner of mental hygiene and social services, said New York State submitted funding into the FNS vendor system and county recipients began receiving benefits as early as Nov. 10. On the county side Hernandez reported roughly $1.2 million distributed on Nov. 10 and that totals rose to about $2.7 million by Nov. 12, as OTDA processed current recipients and new applications.

Hernandez said the state response involved rapid uploading of funds and that OTDA canceled a scheduled call because staff were processing distributions. "For the month of November, absolutely" recipients will receive their SNAP benefits, she told the committee.

The committee asked about HEAP (home energy assistance). Hernandez said the county submitted its HEAP plan to the federal government before the shutdown but that final federal approval is pending; if the federal government reopens, the county expects clarity and potential reimbursement at previous levels (OTDA historically processed HEAP as emergency reimbursements at 100% federal funding). Hernandez said the county is coordinating with Erie County and the New York Public Welfare Association to explore agreements with food banks and other contingency measures if the shutdown continues.

Committee members thanked staff for contingency planning; Hernandez repeated the county’s approach: prepare for the worst, hope for the best. No formal vote was required on the update.