Ohioans could lose food assistance in November if federal shutdown continues 

If the federal government shutdown continues, nearly 1.4 million Ohioans could miss the monthly payments that help them buy groceries starting Nov. 1 (Source: “Food assistance for 1.4M Ohioans could be cut off if shutdown continues into November,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 22).
 
Each month, about $263.4 million flows to Ohioans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which used to be called food stamps. The average benefit is $190. It's a federal program; the state confirms recipients' eligibility.
 
In an Oct. 10 letter to states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said there won't be enough money to pay all November SNAP benefits if the shutdown continues. 
 
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said its Food and Nutrition Service has begun gathering information for a potential contingency plan regarding SNAP benefit operations, should the shutdown continue.