As the government shutdown continues, states face the possibility that they’ll run out of funds for WIC. Federal guidelines typically require states to give 15 days’ notice to those enrolled in the program before benefits expire, and Nov. 1 could be the day funding dries up nationwide. Without new funding because of the shutdown, states have relied on dollars left over from last fiscal year and $125 million in contingency funds from the USDA to continue benefits in the past two weeks. That was a temporary fix, however, and now many states may be forced to end benefits with no federal funding on the horizon.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health reports it is using current available funds to continue to provide services to participants for the time being.
Source: Stateline, 10/1/13, WIC Worries
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