While the 1.8 million Pennsylvanians who receive food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will get benefits at least through the end of February, advocates see the potential for problems. The federal government announced its protection plan this week, amid growing concern that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one of the agencies affected by the shutdown, might not be able to get the benefit to 42 million Americans.
Kathy Fisher, policy director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, said there’s some concern that people will unknowingly spend those February benefits early.
