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Government Shutdown Donation Information
 
Following the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, many individuals and families are facing uncertainty in our community. Whether you’re navigating changes in food benefits, housing support, or childcare, we’re here to help connect you with the resources you need during this uncertain time. Visit the links above to find food resources, and other additional resources you may need.
If you or your family are experiencing any challenges related to the government shutdown, here are some available FAQ’s.

 

FAQ’s

How It Affects Me

What is a government shutdown? 

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation for federal agencies. This results in a temporary halt of non-essential government operations. 

 

Will I continue to receive my Social Security and SSI checks?

Recipients will continue to receive their Social Security and SSI checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide limited services like issuing Social Security cards and holding appointments for benefit applications. However, SSA will stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments. Customer service wait times will increase, and there may be delays in processing claims.

 

What is the impact on housing?

The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is impacted. Our local Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (HACSD) is not a federal agency and is still operating and supporting over 11,000 households with monthly rental assistance through its programs. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV or Section 8) is federally funded and may be impacted depending on the length and scope of the shutdown. In October, Housing Assistance Payments were disbursed to landlords on schedule. Partial funding for November payments has been obligated by HUD. HACSD will continue to monitor and provide updates on November assistance payments as we have more information.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will stop insuring some new mortgages and the HUD will stop processing some new loans. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stop new loan and loan guarantee activity. The VA will continue to guarantee home loans. 

 

What is the impact on food assistance?

CalFresh (aka SNAP, EBT, Food Stamps) Information:

  • What is the latest status of CalFresh/SNAP benefits? Will I receive my November benefits?
    • EBT issuances for CalFresh households scheduled for Days 1–7 have been successfully loaded onto your EBT cards. Issuances for Days 8–10 will be distributed to you as regularly scheduled. For newly approved and enrolled CalFresh households, 100% of your benefits will continue to be issued until further notice. Several court actions pending may still impact CalFresh, however, the County of San Diego will continue to closely monitor developments and share new information as it becomes available.
  • Will I receive my CalFresh benefits for October 2025?
    • Yes. Your CalFresh benefits for October 2025 and prior months are not impacted. You should have received your benefits as scheduled.
  • Will I be able to use the CalFresh benefits on my EBT card in November 2025?
    • As of now, you will be able to use your EBT card with your existing benefits as usual through the federal government shutdown.
  • What if I am due to complete my SAR 7 or renew my CalFresh benefits in November and I haven’t sent in my completed forms yet?
    • Please continue to submit all required forms and your recertification as normal. However, there may be processing delays due to the continued federal government shutdown.
  • My application was submitted for processing. Do I need to re-apply?
    • No action is required from you at this time. 
      • Continue using your existing EBT card and your current balance as normal. 
      • You can check your balance using the ebtEDGE app or by calling the number on the back of your EBT card. 
      • Continue to follow all program rules, including submitting recertifications or verifications as required. Eligibility rules have NOT changed.
  • Can I request a state hearing if my CalFresh benefits are delayed due to the federal government shutdown?
    • Judges are unable to start or restart November benefits at this time because the federal government shutdown has delayed funding. Therefore, requesting a hearing will not restart CalFresh benefits.
  • I just applied. Will I get my November benefits with my October benefits?
    • No. Normally, new applicants in the second half of October get a combined benefit for both October and November. However, due to the federal directive, your November benefits will be held (delayed) even if your application is approved. You will receive your prorated October benefits first.
  • How will I be updated on the status of my benefits?
    • The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is sending direct updates to ongoing CalFresh households via text and email (if an email address is on file). These messages began on October 20th. The County of San Diego is also providing updates.
  • If my CalFresh is delayed, where can I find food for my family?
  • How are CalFresh Benefits funded?
    • CalFresh benefits are 100 percent federally funded, and CalFresh administrative costs are split between the federal government and states.
  • Is the County still processing applications?
    • Yes. To ensure service continues when funding is restored, all County offices are still processing new applications and recertifications, including expedited service, according to normal timelines. Eligibility rules and requirements for verification have NOT changed.

 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

  • What is the WIC Program?
    • WIC provides free, healthy foods and personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services.
  • Will my WIC food benefits stop during the government shutdown?
    • No. Continue to use your food benefits at WIC authorized stores as you normally would unless your local WIC office tells you otherwise.
    • Use the free California WIC App to check your food balance.
    • If you have questions about your WIC foods, you can:
  • Will benefits be impacted in November or future months?
    • While reports from major news outlets state that WIC benefits will remain available through the end of November 2025, no official memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has been provided yet.
  • Should I take any action?
    • Continue to use your WIC benefits. Use your WIC food benefits at WIC-authorized stores as usual. Your WIC food benefits can help you stretch your food dollars.
    • Keep attending your WIC appointments. Families should continue attending their scheduled WIC appointments. WIC will continue to help you get healthy foods, nutrition tips, breastfeeding support, and referrals.
    • Stay in contact with your WIC office. Your local WIC office can offer you support and guidance.

 

FREE Student Breakfast and Lunch

  • What is the free school breakfast and lunch program?
    • Every public and charter school in California must offer one free breakfast and one free lunch to any student who asks for it. This is a rule from a California state law called the Universal Meals Program (also called “School Meals for All”). Meals must be consumed on campus and cannot be taken to go. The funding for this program is safe and is not impacted by delays in federal funding. 
  • Who is eligible for free meals? 
    • ALL students—from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 12th grade—who attend a public school or charter school in California are eligible. Your income does not matter.
  • If my CalFresh is delayed, will my child still get free school meals? 
    • YES. Even if there are delays or interruptions with federal programs like CalFresh, the state law makes sure your child will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every day they are at school. 
  • Do I need CalFresh benefits to get the free meals? 
    • NO. Free meals are available to every student in public schools, no matter the income your family earns, your CalFresh status, or what is happening with federal funding.
  • Can my child take their meal to go?
    • No. Meals must be consumed on campus and cannot be taken to go.
  • Does my child have to sign up or use a special code to eat for free? 
    • Your child just goes to the cafeteria or meal service line and asks for a meal. They do not need to show an ID, sign up, or pay for anything to eat.
      • Tip for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers: Even though no sign-up is needed, it helps the school prepare the correct number of meals if you let the school office or your child’s charter school know as soon as possible that your child will be eating free breakfast and/or lunch. 
  • Should I still fill out the meal application form?  
    • YES, absolutely! This is one of the most important actions you can take for your family and your school. 
    • Filling out the form helps because: 
      • It helps your family. If you qualify, your family will automatically get the SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) food card for summer break, and you may qualify for discounts on things like utility bills and Internet service.
      • It saves more funding for the school. The number of qualifying applications helps the district get the maximum money for classrooms, teachers, and other programs. 
  • How do I submit a form for my child to receive a free breakfast and/or lunch at school? 
    • The best way to apply is to visit your school district’s official website and search for the Meal Application or Household Income Form. 
    • If you can’t find it online, call or visit your school’s office and ask them for the application. 
  • Do I need to submit an application for each of my children?  
    • You only need to submit one application for your whole household. List all the children who live with you and attend schools within that district on that one application. This information will always be confidential and protected.

 

What is the impact on cash assistance and employment support? 

  • CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) Information:
    • Will my CalWORKs cash aid be impacted?
      • No. Based on current projections, CalWORKs funding is anticipated to be available for November 2025 benefits. Participants should continue reporting to their county offices and stay alert for updates from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) or local Health and Human Services agencies. 

 

What is the impact on food safety activities?

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety activities – such as routine inspections of facilities – will be delayed across the country.

 

Will Medicare and Medicaid benefits be affected?

Current Medicare, Medicaid, and disability insurance beneficiaries will continue to receive their benefits assuming a shutdown lasts less than three months. You may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed.

 

Will Open Enrollment on Healthcare.gov still take place?

The federal insurance marketplace open enrollment will be unaffected. Open Enrollment will proceed as normal from November 1 through January 15.

 

What happens to veterans’ services?

All Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities and clinics will remain operational. The VA will continue to process veterans’ benefits. However, veterans will be affected by the shutdown of other services that they count on, including education and job training, support for veteran- owned businesses, and assistance for homeless veterans.

 

What is the impact on U.S. military personnel and federal law enforcement?

All active-duty, Guard, and Reservists on active-duty orders are “excepted” and therefore are required to work without pay. On-base non-acute health care will cease, although off-base care provided through TRICARE will not be affected. Federal law enforcement will also be required to work without pay for the duration of a shutdown.

 

Will military and federal retiree benefits be suspended?

Military and federal retirees will continue to receive their retirement benefits. Processing new applications or other requested changes will be delayed.

 

Will my student loans continue to be disbursed?

Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursement during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced. Free Applications for Student Aids (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans could continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If the shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

 

Will I still be able to visit National Parks and monuments?

National Parks will remain open, but exercise caution during any visits as services that require National Park Service staff, including trash removal and operating campgrounds and concessions, will be halted. Visitor centers will be closed, entrance fees won’t be collected, educational programs will be canceled, and campsites won’t be staffed. In many instances, restrooms will be closed and services like trash collection and road maintenance will be suspended. Closures will be determined on a location-by-location basis; open-air parks and monuments in Washington, D.C. will likely remain accessible. Smithsonian museums may also be impacted by a lengthy shutdown. There are also limited emergency/rescue services, and safety updates will not be published. Please keep this in mind when planning any visits or hikes in our National Parks.

 

Will my passport renewal still be processed?

Passport applications will continue to be processed. The Bureau of Consular Affairs/Passport Services is designated as an essential service provider and is funded through passport fees, so all of Passport Services, including agencies and the National Passport Information Center, will remain open during a lapse of appropriations.

 

Will immigration applications still be processed?

Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and thus are not normally impacted by a lapse in appropriations. Immigration court cases on the detained docket will proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations while non-detained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement will retain the vast majority of their employees during a shutdown

 

Should I cancel my upcoming travel?

You can proceed with your travel plans. Air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents will work throughout the shutdown without pay. However, you should expect significant delays and longer wait times across the country.

 

How will this affect small businesses?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will stop processing new business loans, such as through the 7(a) and 504 programs. However, SBA’s Disaster Loan Program will continue regular operations.

 

Will my mail still arrive?

Yes. The U.S. Postal Service is not affected by a shutdown.

 

I have an issue with a government agency, can I still call them for help? Can my local congressional office help me instead?

Due to the lapse in funding, many agencies have furloughed workers, so their help desks may have little or no staffing. You are encouraged to contact any agency to learn if they are still able to assist you at this time. You can also contact your local congressional office to open a case for you. They can contact an agency on your behalf and provide you with updates if an agency is open or when they re-open at the conclusion of the shutdown.

 

What about international travel?

All services at international embassies and consulates will continue during a lapse of appropriations. If you are abroad and need help, you can contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

 

What does this mean for disaster relief efforts?

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the Disaster Relief Fund.

 

How will this affect environmental protection and cleanup?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop inspecting most hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities. Efforts to address dangerous contaminants like PFAS – which are linked to severe health effects, including cancer – will be delayed, and cleanup activities at Superfund sites will slow or cease.

 

How It Affects the Government

When did the shutdown occur?

On October 1, 2025, at 12:01 am, federal agencies no longer have the authority to execute many of their functions. They will furlough non-essential personnel and reduce operations until a new appropriations bill is passed and signed into law.

What gets shut down or curtailed?

Almost every operation of the federal government relies on the annual appropriations bills to provide funding and authority for actions. During previous shutdowns, voters and constituents have paid close attention to the following affected areas:

  • Food assistance: 
    • CalFresh (aka SNAP, EBT, Food Stamps): CalFresh will be impacted beginning in November.
      • CalFresh benefits for October 2025 and prior months are not impacted. 
      • November benefits may be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues past October 23.
      • The federal government has informed California that there are not enough federal funds to pay full November CalFresh benefits. The state has been directed to hold the benefit issuance until funding is secured.
      • The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is sending direct updates to ongoing CalFresh households via text and email (if an email address is on file). These messages began on October 20th. The County of San Diego is also providing updates.
  • California Food Assistance Program (CFAP): The state-funded California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefits for November 2025 will be delayed.
  • State-funded benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Benefit (SNB) and Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) are not impacted and will be processed normally. 
  • WIC: WIC families can keep using their WIC benefits, including formula, at WIC-approved stores during the government shutdown. WIC will continue to issue benefits as long as funding is available. Benefit amounts are set by the United States Congress and are not expected to change. For updates visit the California WIC website. 
  • Government contractors: Government contractors, on the other hand, do not automatically receive back pay for a furlough during a shutdown. Past efforts to provide backpay to furloughed contractors have been unsuccessful because of the complex nature of their employment and the financial cost to the government. Government contracting guidance will vary from Agency to Agency.
  • Government workers: Many federal employees may be deemed “non-essential” and furloughed during a shutdown. During past shutdowns, Congress would vote after each lapse to provide back pay for employees. However, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (P.L. 116-1), which was enacted in 2019 after the last shutdown, now guarantees back pay for federal employees following a funding lapse.
  • Head Start: This early education program for low-income children is beginning to have some impacts. The National Head Start Association (NHSA) has shared a map that displays shutdown impacts on Head Start by Congressional District. On November 1, 2025, almost 10% of all Head Start children are at risk of their school closing. However, this map does not show any local impact on Head Start providers in the San Diego region for November. View Map Here.
  • Housing assistance: The shutdown may cause uncertainty for tens of thousands of low-income tenants who rely on the federal government to help pay their rent.
  • Military personnel: Military personnel are largely required to continue work, but paychecks are halted until the government reopens.

 

What entities will remain open?

  • Medicare and Medicaid: Medicare and Medicaid will continue for the foreseeable future, but one may experience difficulty reaching these agencies as some employees are furloughed. The Medicare open enrollment period running from October 15 through December 7 will be unaffected, although communications from the agency may be stalled or outdated.
  • Post Office: The US Postal Service does not receive appropriations, so mail will still be delivered.
  • Social Security: Social Security benefits, including Supplemental Security Income and benefits for retirement, disability, and survivors, continue uninterrupted through government shutdowns. They have a permanent funding source and are not subject to the annual appropriations process. The Social Security Administration contingency plan can be found here.
  • Student Loans: Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans can continue to be obligated and make disbursement during a shutdown, but only as long as carryover and mandatory appropriations last. However, department staff needed to carry out and support these functions are significantly reduced. Free Applications for Student Aids (FAFSA), Pell Grant, and Federal Direct Student Loans, and servicing of federal student loans could continue for a “very limited time” under a shutdown. If the shutdown continues for an extended period of time, school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience funding shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

 

This FAQ was sourced through congressional representatives and the United Way Worldwide 10/1/2025 and through communication from California Department of Social Services (CDSS) received on 10/20/25.