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County says November SNAP paid after state uploads funds; HEAP approval still pending federal reopening
Summary
Chautauqua County reported New York State uploaded funds into the FNS vendor system so November SNAP benefits were being paid; HEAP (heating assistance) remains pending federal approval and county officials are exploring contingency agreements with food banks if the shutdown continues.
Chautauqua County officials told the Human Services Committee that New York State had uploaded funds into the FNS vendor system and that November SNAP benefits were being processed and distributed. Commissioner Carmel Hernandez said the county saw roughly $1.2 million in SNAP disbursements on Nov. 10 and about $2.7 million by Nov. 12, and that both current recipients and new applicants for November were being paid.
Hernandez said the state and county had coordinated with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and used legal and administrative channels during the federal shutdown to push payments; she said OTDA prioritized SNAP and that the state chose to fund November benefits to ensure recipients received full payments.
By contrast, HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program) remained pending because the state submitted its HEAP plan to the federal government shortly before the shutdown and the federal approval was delayed. Hernandez said the county expected clarification about HEAP reimbursement and approval once the federal government reopened and planned to press OTDA for guidance in the near term.
County staff said they had reached out to Erie County and the New York Public Welfare Association to review emergency contracting options with food banks (including discussions about FeedMore) and expected additional information in 24–48 hours on possible local steps if the shutdown continued. Officials emphasized they were prepared for short‑term contingency work but that long‑term gaps would require more extensive resource coordination.
Commissioners thanked staff for the emergency response and asked that the county return with advice on what actions the county could take if the shutdown persisted.
