The Brief

PHOENIX - Tuesday, Oct. 21 marks Day 21 of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, and if legislators in Washington fail to pass a budget soon, November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may not be paid.

Should SNAP payments be delayed, it would affect more than 900,000 Arizona residents.

Big picture view:

SNAP benefits, which is also referred to as food stamps, usually gives families around $700 to $900 a month to buy groceries.

The federal government supplies 95% of the money to pay for them, so if the shutdown continues, November will be extremely tight for families that rely on these benefits.

Local perspective:

Amri Shuba, who is a single mother of four, was waiting outside the Arizona Department of Economic Security on Oct. 21 for this month

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