Gov. Patrick Morrisey announces that he is working to resolve issues with the state’s providers that process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy of West Virginia Governor’s Office Patrick Morrisey)
Problems with third-party providers that process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in West Virginia are leaving thousands of residents without their food stamp benefits, while some other states have already begun distributing benefits.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey told reporters Monday that he is “aggressively” pushing vendors to load partial benefits onto residents’ EBT cards — which they employ for grocery purchases with SNAP — as quickly as possible.
A Saturday memo said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service should finance 65% of SNAP benefits, and West Virginia must calculate that amount for approximately 275,000 residents employ the program.
Morrisey said SNAP processing providers have “a lot of technical and feasibility issues.” The companies involved are Fidelity Information Services and Optum State Government Solutions, with which the state contracts to handle various parts of SNAP enrollment and benefits processing. Fidelity has already begun processing SNAP benefits for other states.
“I have made it clear that I want us to work as quickly as possible to get these systems up and running,” he said. “I’ve been holding calls and meetings on this topic today to really challenge all contractors to act very quickly… They have to. I mean, people’s lives are at stake and we need people to do their jobs confidently.”
Earlier this month, SNAP benefits for millions of Americans were delayed due to the federal government shutdown.
As a result, food banks in West Virginia have seen a high boost in demand. National Guard members continue to assist with food distribution across the state.
Morrisey said that if the government reopens, he believes the state will be able to quickly load EBT cards with full benefits for residents.
“I want to emphasize that the quickest way for this all to end is to end the shutdown, because from a technical standpoint, they say they can take full benefits quicker than all partial benefits,” the governor said.
As West Virginia makes its SNAP calculations, a nationwide Trump administration lawsuit over food stamps could also impact the amount residents receive.
A federal appeals court on Sunday declined an offer President Donald Trump should only pay partial benefits Americans during the shutdown. In response, the Trump administration said the Supreme Court that it intends to continue to seek a stay of a Order of the lower court Full payment of SNAP benefits from November through the end of the closure is required.
Morrisey announces another $2 million for food banks and is still considering a special session of the Legislature
While problems with SNAP processing persist, Morrisey on Monday announced an additional $2 million in funding for food banks, bringing the state’s contribution to more than $13 million.
“We don’t know exactly when the government will be open, and I want to make sure no one goes hungry,” Morrisey said.
There are a bipartisan deal The issue in the US Senate is to end the government shutdown after key Democrats split from their party on Sunday evening to push forward the measure together with the Republicans. The package restores pay and protections to federal workers and would fully fund SNAP through next September.
That is not the case Democrats wanted to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that were set to expire at the end of the year.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives would still have to vote on it before it could reach Trump’s desk for signature.
Morrisey promised around $14 million to food banks during the SNAP delay and said he would call the Legislature into a special session to provide more funding if needs exceed that amount.
Given the unknowns in Washington, D.C., Morrisey is still considering involving the Legislature.
“Based on discussions with the food banks, we are in a good position until at least November 17th,” Morrisey said. “But I don’t want to get behind on this…So if it’s later today or tomorrow – I want to make sure we assess what’s going on – whether I need to reconvene the Legislature, I’ll probably know in the next 24 to 36 hours. I won’t be afraid to do it.”
The governor urged residents in need of home grocery delivery to call or text 211, the state’s 24/7 hotline Hotline.
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- November 11, 20258:11 a.mThis story has been updated to include information about Fidelity Information Services and Optum State Government Solutions. Fidelity began processing benefits for other states.
